NCJ Number
67059
Date Published
1974
Length
257 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED FROM A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE EDUCATIONAL LEVELS OF U.S. POLICE RECRUITS, 1972-1973, AND THE INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN FACTORS ON COLLEGE-EDUCATED RECRUITS' CHOICE OF AGENCIES FOR EMPLOYMENT.
Abstract
DATA WAS OBTAINED FROM RECORDS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS AND TRAINING COMMISSIONS IN CALIFORNIA, NEW JERSEY, TEXAS, AND MICHIGAN AND INCLUDED NAMES, EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, AND AGENCIES EMPLOYING THE NEWLY HIRED RECRUITS. A COLLEGE-EDUCATED SAMPLE OF THESE WAS CHOSEN FOR A FURTHER SURVEY BY QUESTIONNAIRE TO ELICIT INFORMATION ABOUT WHY THEY CHOSE THE AGENCY THEY WORK FOR. THE PRESENT STUDY EMPLOYED EIGHT RESEARCH HYPOTHESES SUBSUMING 54 TESTABLE HYPOTHESES. FINDINGS INDICATE THAT COLLEGE-EDUCATED PERSONS ARE NOW BECOMING POLICEMEN IN LARGE NUMBERS: ABOUT 37 PERCENT OF NEW RECRUITS HAVE SOME COLLEGE BACKGROUND. THE LEVEL OF POLICE-RECRUIT EDUCATION HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY RAISED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM, POLICE CADET PROGRAMS, AND A POLICY OF AGENCY REWARDS FOR COMPLETING COLLEGE. OF POLICE RECRUITS RECEIVING A COMPLETED EDUCATION REWARD, 58 PERCENT INDICATED THAT ITS POSSIBILITY INFLUENCED THEIR CHOICE OF AGENCY BECAUSE COLLEGE-EDUCATED RECRUITS CONSIDER PRESTIGE AND STARTING SALARY VERY SIGNIFICANT IN CHOOSING AN EMPLOYER AGENCY. WHILE ALMOST ALL POLICE RECRUITS EXPECT TO HAVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CAREERS, COLLEGE-EDUCATED RECRUITS INTEND TO REMAIN WITH ONLY THOSE LARGER AGENCIES OFFERING BETTER SALARIES AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. COLLEGE-EDUCATED POLICE RECRUITS MAJORING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE NOT MORE COMMITTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREERS THAN OTHERS. FOOTNOTES AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED.