NCJ Number
43178
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 44 Issue: 8 Dated: (AUGUST 1977) Pages: 36-38
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO DATE SUGGESTS POLICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS SHOULD NOT SET UP ABSOLUTE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR POLICE OFFICERS UNTILL MORE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE TOTAL IMPACT OF EDUCATION ON THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
RESEARCH ON THE EFFECT OF EDUCATION ON POLICE MORALE, POLICE PERFORMANCE, AND COMMUNITY PERCEPTION OF POLICE PERFORMANCE HAS PRODUCED CONFLICTING RESULTS. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE COLLEGE-EDUCATED PATROLMAN IS MORE LIKELY TO BE BORED THAN THE NONCOLLEGE-EDUCATED, BUT THAT AT MIDSUPERVISORY LEVELS THE COLLEGE PERSON IS HAPPIER. FLORIDA IS ATTEMPTING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY HIRING OFFICERS WITH LESS EDUCATION AND THEN, AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME ON THE FORCE, OFFERING SALARY INCENTIVES FOR ADDITIONAL EDUCATION. WHILE THE SENIOR OFFICER IS IN THE CLASSROOM, HOWEVER, A LESS EXPERIENCED OFFICER MUST BE HIRED TO DO HIS WORK, THUS INCREASING THE COST. THE RATIONALE IS THAT THE EDUCATION IS ACTUALLY AN INVESTMENT IN FUTURE COMPETENCY. OTHER STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT COLLEGE-EDUCATED POLICEMAN MAKE FEWER ARRESTS AND THAT CRIME RATES GO UP; HOWEVER, CITIZENS PREFER DEALING WITH COLLEGE-EDUCATED PATROL OFFICERS. AS A RESULT, THE PUBLIC RESPONDS FAVORABLY TO ACTUAL INTERACTION WITH EDUCATED POLICE OFFICERS, BUT UNFAVORABLY TO THE EDUCATED DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE. OTHER STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT THE MIDDLE CLASS COLLEGE-EDUCATED OFFICER HAS LESS RAPPORT WITH STREET-CORNER SOCIETY. A SIMILAR CONCLUSION WAS REACHED BY A CANADIAN STUDY. THE CANADIAN AUTHOR DETERMINED THAT THE BEST STRATEGY IS TO SELECT NONCOLLEGE OFFICERS, SUBJECT THEM TO THE INITIAL TRAINING PROGRAM, AND THEN AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, SEND THEM TO THE UNIVERSITY. OTHER RECENT WORK SUGGESTS THAT NO AMOUNT OF EDUCATION IS GOING TO CHANGE THE ATTITUDE OF NONWHITE GROUPS TOWARD THE POLICE AND THAT PUBLIC TRUST WILL REQUIRE DRASTIC SOCIETAL CHANGES. ALL THIS WARNS AGAINST EXPECTING TOO MUCH POLICE EDUCATION.