NCJ Number
87091
Journal
Criminal Justice Review Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (Fall 1982) Pages: 51-57
Date Published
1982
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article looks at the concept of police professionalism, the police view of it, and its possible rewards and prospects.
Abstract
Police administrators have pursued police professionalism earnestly but unsucessfully, in large part, because of the concept's ambiguity. There is a lack of clarity, even in general usage, of the designation 'professional.' Also, the initially imprecise definitions have been further clouded when modified for application to the police. Furthermore, the specific environments of given police departments limit the potential for development of general concepts of police professionalization. Finally, there has been a failure to distinguish between professionalization as achieving professionalism and as obtaining professional perquisities. In view of these factors, police professionalism must be seen more as an illusory goal than as a flawed programmatic objective. Sixteen references are appended. (Author abstract modified)