ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE HIGHER EDUCATION (FROM SOUTHERN CONFERENCE ON CORRECTIONS - PROCEEDINGS, 1979, BY V FOX - SEE NCJ-59373)

• NCJ Number: 59375
• Author(s): W G ARCHAMBEAULT
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Ctr for Professional Development and Public Service; Florida State University
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

KEY PROBLEMS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN 2- AND 4-YEAR CRIMINOLOGY/CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS ARE INDENTIFIED; THE ROLES OF BOTH COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE DELINEATED.

Abstract

IN RECENT YEARS, THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN 2-YEAR AND 4-YEAR CRIMINAL JUSTICE HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS HAS INTENSIFIED AS BOTH HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS AND THOSE OF THEIR STUDENT CONSTITUENCIES. AT ISSUE ARE SUCH MATTERS AS TRANSFERABILITY OF COURSES, COMPARABILITY OF COURSE CONTENT, AND ACADEMIC RIGOR. THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE DISCIPLINE SHOULD BE CALLED CRIMINOLOGY OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS INDICATIVE OF THE IDEOLOGICAL DIVISIONS MANIFESTED BY THE CONFLICT BETWEEN 2- AND 4-YEAR INSTITUTIONS. A MAJOR PROBLEM FACING BOTH THE UNIVERSITY AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS ONE OF EQUATING COURSES AND DELINEATING ROLES. EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, SUCH AS THE COMMON COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM OF FLORIDA, HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. LEARNING IN THE DISCIPLINE SHOULD BE CONTINUOUS, AND SHOULD INVOLVE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE--KNOWLEDGE OF APPLIED OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS AND THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE. THE USE OF A CONTINUUM LEARNING MODEL SUGGESTS SEVERAL POINTS RELATING TO BOTH THE RESPECTIVE ROLES OF THE INSTITUTIONS AND THE CONTROVERSIES WHICH DIVIDE THEM. THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY OR AREA WITHIN ITS SERVICE DISTRICT. WHERE CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS CONCERNED, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SHOULD OFFER INSERVICE TRAINING BASIC CERTIFICATION TRAINING, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIAL TOPIC WORKSHOPS, AND ASSOCIATE DEGREES IN ARTS (AA) AND SCIENCES (AS). IN GENERAL, THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY AT THE UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL IS TO DEVELOP KNOWLEDGEABLE, CRITICALLY THINKING PERSONS WITH GENERAL FAMILIARITY OF THE CRIMINOLOGY/CRIMINAL JUSTICE LITERATURE. GRADUATE EDUCATION FOCUSES ON EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH CAPABLE OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE DISCIPLINE ITSELF, AS WELL AS TO SOCIETY. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)