NCJ Number
55664
Date Published
1966
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER DISCUSSES THE PLACE OF CRIMINOLOGY IN POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMS, THE NATURAL BONDS AND BARRIERS BETWEEN POLICE AND CRIMINOLOGISTS, AND POLICE PARTICIPATION IN VOLUNTARY COURSEWORK.
Abstract
SINCE WORLD WAR II, A THOROUGH AND COHERENT TRAINING SCHEME FOR TRAINING POLICE OFFICERS HAS EVOLVED IN ENGLAND. EVERY RECRUIT GETS A SUBSTANTIAL BASIC AND REFRESHER COURSE AT THE DISTRICT POLICE TRAINING CENTERS, AND MUCH INFORCE TRAINING IS ADDED. THE NATIONAL POLICE COLLEGE AT BRAMSHILL IN HAMPSHIRE TRAINS MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL RANKS AND INCLUDES COURSES DESIGNED TO STIMULATE A BROAD OUTLOOK AND TO IMPART MANAGEMENT FORMATION. THE EXTRA-MURAL STUDY OF CRIMINOLOGY BY POLICE OFFICERS HAS GROWN IN PARALLEL WITH THE OFFICIAL TRAINING SCHEME. AT LEEDS UNIVERSITY, A 3-YEAR CRIMINOLOGY COURSE ATTRACTED 300 POLICE OFFICERS, 100 OF WHOM COMPLETED THE COURSE AND 70 OF WHOM TOOK THE FINAL EXAMINATION; SIMILAR SUCCESS OCCURRED IN A COURSE AT EAST LONDON COLLEGE. THERE ARE SOME NATURAL BONDS BETWEEN POLICE WORK AND CRIMINOLOGY. BOTH FIELDS ARE DIVERSE, BASED ON LAW, AND PRAGMATIC SINCE THEY ARE INFLUENCED GREATLY BY OBSERVATION AND EXPERIENCE. OVERALL, THEY HAVE IDENTICAL AIMS--CRIME PREVENTION. HOWEVER, THERE ARE BARRIERS BETWEEN THE TWO FIELDS; (1) THE DIFFERENCE IN EDUCATIONAL LEVELS BETWEEN PROFESSIONALS IN THE TWO OCCUPATIONS AND (2) THE EMPHASIS ON EXPERIENCE IN ONE AND ON ACADEMICS IN THE OTHER. CRIMINOLOGY COURSES FOR POLICE OFFICERS ARE RECOMMENDED (OR AT LEAST CONTACT BETWEEN POLICE POLICE AND CRIMINOLOGISTS). PROBLEMS WILL INCLUDE DESIGNING COURSES THAT CAN FIT AROUND SHIFT WORK AND FREQUENT TRANSFERS AND FINDING TEACHERS QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB. (DAG)