NCJ Number
57957
Date Published
1979
Length
40 pages
Annotation
A PROJECT WAS INITIATED BY POSITIVE FUTURES INC. (PFI) TO EXAMINE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM GENERALLY AND TO EXPLORE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH NEEDS OF BLACKS AND OTHERS MINORITIES VIS-A-VIS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
PFI, A CONSORTIUM OF 10 PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, INITIATED THE PROJECT AS A MEANS OF ASSISTING BLACK EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO OVERCOME SOME OF THE BARRIERS TO SUCCESSFUL CRIMINAL JUSTICE CURRICULA INNOVATION. THE MOST CHALLENGING ISSUES CONFRONTING MAJORITY BLACK INSTITUTIONS ARE UNCERTAIN FUNDING, INADEQUATE STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, UNEVEN AND OFTEN DIFFICULT FACULTY RECRUITMENT, AND TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONAL RESISTANCE TO CHANGE. THUS, THE LEAA-FUNDED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECT ADDRESSED THREE BROAD ISSUES: (1) TO WHAT EXTENT CAN GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDENT POPULATION BE ISOLATED AND IDENTIFIED; (2) WHAT ARE PERCEPTIONS OF PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM WITH REGARD TO PROGRAM ORGANIZATION, MANAGEMENT, AND IMPACT; AND (3) WHAT ARE ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES IN THE PFI CONSORTIUM APPROACH TO DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING CURRICULUM INNOVATIONS AT PREDOMINATLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. ALL 895 PARTICIPANTS OVERWHELMINGLY AGREED THAT, WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE INSTITUTIONS, LINES OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS WERE CLEAR AND WELL-DEFINED. STUDENTS INDICATED WIDESPREAD SATISFACTION WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECT BUT SUGGESTED THAT THE PROJECT COULD POSSIBLY BE IMPROVED BY HIRING MORE AND BETTER INSTRUCTORS, PROVIDING BETTER FACILITIES AND CLASSROOMS, OFFERING MORE COURSES, RECRUITING A BROADER CROSS SECTION OF STUDENTS, PROVIDING MORE AND BETTER LIBRARY FACILITIES, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH MORE FIELD EXPERIENCES AND GUEST EXPOSURE TO PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD, AND MAKING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM A 4-YEAR COURSE. THROUGH PROJECT EFFORTS, A CORE CURRICULUM WAS DEVELOPED FOR MODIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION BY PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS. THIS CURRICULUM CONSISTS OF SIX 3-HOUR COURSE OFFERINGS: INTRODUCTION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT; INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; INTRODUCTION TO CORRECTIONS; INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY; CRIMINAL COURT PROCEDURES; AND CRIMINAL AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS. DATA RESULTING FROM THE REVIEW OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECT ARE TABULATED. (DEP)