NCJ Number
85002
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 49 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1982) Pages: 46-48
Date Published
1982
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The Southeast Florida Institute of Criminal Justice and the Department of Developmental Studies at the North Campus of Miami-Dade Community College (Florida) developed a course in basic academic and physical skills for law enforcement students needing assistance.
Abstract
The course is a 3-day, 18-hour saturation program that can be inserted at the beginning of the police training curriculum. Enrollment is limited to law enforcement students with marked deficiencies in reading or writing. Trainees in nine successive classes were administered pretests and posttests, and the results were highly encouraging. As a result, the Department of Developmental Studies explored the possibility of a longer term program to help students acquire basic academic skills. The extended program also appeared to be successful after 1982 testing. The program is highly adaptable to other areas of the country. Several factors characterize program success, including an accurate assessment process for identifying participants, emphasis on the academic skills needed for police work and academy training, instructors who have experience as practitioners, and reinforcement of basic skill development during the training program itself.