NCJ Number
46155
Date Published
1977
Length
493 pages
Annotation
MINNESOTA PEACE OFFICER TRAINING AND EDUCATION IS EVALUATED AND COMPARED TO NATIONAL STANDARDS. NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED AND RECOMMENDATONS ARE MADE.
Abstract
FOLLOWING DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE STATE, COST DATA AND MANPOWER PROJECTIONS ARE GIVEN. DATA ON THE MANDATORY AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH MUNICIPAL AND STATE ACADEMIES AND VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL INSTITUTE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS ARE INCLUDED. NUMBER OF OFFICERS TRAINED, CURRICULUM, AND FUNDING ARE DETAILED AND FINDINGS ARE SUPPORTED WITH TABULAR DATA. THE EVALUATION SECTION COMPARES THIS TRAINING DELIVERY SYSTEM TO THE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS. IT THEN SURVEYS BOTH INSTRUCTORS AND GRADUATES AS WELL AS POLICE SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL TO ASSESS QUALITY. THE COSTS OF ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY SYSTEM, MANPOWER PROJECTIONS, LEGAL PROGLEMS ASSOCIATED SYSTEM, MANPOWER PROJECTIONS, LEGAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED OF VARIOUS SYSTEMS ARE SURVEYED. THE FINAL SECTION FOCUSES ON THE MANDATORY 280-HOUR TRAINING PROGRAM OFFERED BY THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION (BCA), THE BASIC TRAINING RECEIVED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF MINNESOTA PEACE OFFICERS. THE COURSE IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL AND COMPARED TO COURSES OFFERED BY MINNEAPOLIS, ST. PAUL, AND THE STATE PATROL, AND COURSES OFFERED BY OTHER STATES. SELF-EVALUATION OF JOB PREPARATION AND PERFORMANCE FROM TWO SAMPLES OF GRADUATES (A 6-MONTHS AND A 3-YEARS POSTTRAINING GROUP) PINPOINTS WEAK AREAS. A JOB-ANALYSIS FOR VARIOUS LEVELS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN BOTH LARGE AND SMALL DEPARTMENTS IS ALSO INCLUDED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE MANDATORY TRAINING PROGRAM BE EXPANDED BEYOND THE 280 HOURS NOW REQUIRED, THAT VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS BE USED TO HELP PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING, THAT MANDATORY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS BE MORE RIGIDLY ENFORCED (AT PRESENT MANY RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE EXEMPTED), AND THAT TEACHING METHODS BE OVERHAULED WITH FEWER LECTURES AND MORE DIRECT INVOLVEMENT OF STUDENTS. LICENSING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WHICH SPECIFIES STANDARDS OF COMPETENCE IS RECOMMENDED AS A GOAL FOR THE 1980'S. TABLES, GRAPHS, REFERENCES, COPIES OF SURVEY INSTRUMENTS, AND TABULAR PRESENTATIONS OF SURVEY RESULTS ARE INCLUDED. AN APPENDIX DETAILING TECHNICAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE SURVEYS IS ISSUED UNDER SEPARATE COVER. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (GLR)