NCJ Number
53630
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 52-70
Date Published
1979
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THE EXTENT TO WHICH PROFESSIONALIZATION AMONG POLICE OFFICERS HAS OCCURRED AND IMPEDIMENTS AND IMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROFESSIONALIZATION MOVEMENT ARE ADDRESSED.
Abstract
AN ATTRIBUTE OF PROFESSIONALIZING OCCUPATIONS IS THE EXISTENCE OR DEVELOPMENT OF A BODY OF KNOWLEDGE THAT IS SUBJECT TO GENERALIZED CONCEPTUALIZATION AND ABSTRACTION. THE TRADITIONAL MODE OF TRAINING POLICE OFFICERS IN CANADA HAS BEEN THE APPRENTICESHIP MODEL WHEREBY YOUNG OFFICERS DEVELOP SKILLS IN THEIR PROFESSION BY ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, THE IMITATION OF MORE EXPERIENCED OFFICERS, AND ATTEMPTING TO PUT INTO PRACTICE THE ADVICE OF THEIR SUPERIORS. A GREAT DEAL OF THIS TRAINING IS FORMALIZED INTO RECRUIT TRAINING COURSES OFFERED AT VARIOUS POLICE COLLEGES. ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIALIZATION AND PROFESSIONALISM IS THE CONTINUANCE OF POLICE OFFICERS TO PROMULGATE THE MYTH OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS CRIME FIGHTERS; THIS MYTH MAY NEGATIVELY AFFECT THEIR ATTEMPT TO PROFESSIONALIZE. ONE OF THE MAJOR DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLICE AS A PROFESSION IS THE LACK OF A SYSTEMATIC BODY OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE LACK OF A SET OF SKILLS DERIVED FROM THIS KNOWLEDGE. THE ISSUE OF RAISING STANDARDS OF ADMISSION FOR POLICE OFFICERS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE POLICE PROFESSIONALISM IS IMPORTANT. THE EFFICACY OF EDUCATION, HOWEVER, MUST BE WEIGHED IN TERMS OF ITS COSTS AND BENEFITS. CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO AUTONOMY AND SELF-REGULATION AS PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES. DATA ON POLICE DUTIES AND ON THE SOCIAL ROLE OF POLICE OFFICERS, ALONG WITH DATA PERTINENT TO POLICE PROFESSIONALISM IN CANADA, ARE TABULATED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (DEP)