TERTIARY EDUCATION AND THE POLICEMAN - PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE

• NCJ Number: 53541
• Journal: Australian Police Journal Volume: 32 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 220-235
• Author(s): D CHAPPELL
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Australian Police Journal
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE NATIONAL POLICE TRAINING SURVEY AT THE TASMANIA (AUSTRALIA) POLICE ACADEMY, APRIL 1978

Annotation

THIS ADDRESS BY A CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONAL TO THE TASMANIAN POLICE ACADEMY CONCERNS THE STATUS OF POLICE EDUCATION IN THE U.S. SINCE LEAA AND PROPOSES OBJECTIVES FOR AUSTRALIAN POLICE EDUCATION.

Abstract

THE JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN NEW YORK CITY PROVIDES AN EXAMPLE OF TERTIARY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL IN THE U.S. IT IS A FULLY ACCREDITED COLLEGE, AN OFFSHOOT OF THE CITY TRAINING POLICE ACADEMY, AND PROVIDES A CURRICULUM CONSISTING OF POLICE SCIENCE SUBJECTS AT AN UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL ALONG WITH A WIDE RANGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCE SUBJECTS. BOTH THE CURRICULUM AT JOHN JAY AND ITS STUDENT BODY HAVE GREATLY EXPANDED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF LEAA. IN FACT, POLICE EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, NUMBERING 184 BEFORE LEAA AND PROVIDING 152 ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS, 39 BACCALUAREATES, 24 MASTERS, AND 4 DOCTORAL PROGRAMS, HAD INCREASED TO 664 INSTITUTIONS BY 1975 TO 1976, PROVIDING 729 ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS, 376 BACCALAUREATES, 121 MASTERS, AND 19 DOCTORS. IN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AND TASMANIA, A 1967 SURVEY INDICATED THAT POLICE OFFICERS BELIEVED RECRUITS SHOULD HAVE A MAXIMUM QUALIFICATION OF 3 YEARS OF SECONDARY, OR HIGH SCHOOL, EDUCATION, AND THAT OFFICERS RESPONDING TO THE SURVEY HAD AN AVERAGE OF 2 YEARS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL ALTHOUGH SEVERAL HAD NOT COMPLETED THE PRIMARY LEVEL. BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, SEVERAL GOALS ARE SET FOR AUSTRALIAN POLICE STYLED AFTER THE GOALS SET BY THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS IN THE U.S. THEY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) BY 1980, ALL POLICE RECRUITS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL; (2) BY 1985, EVERY POLICE AGENCY SHOULD REQUIRE ITS OFFICERS TO COMPLETE 1 ADDITIONAL YEAR OF STUDY; (3) BY 1990, ALL DEPARTMENTS SHOULD REQUIRE RECRUITS TO COMPLETE AT LEAST 3 YEARS OF COLLEGE LEVEL WORK. FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PRESENTED AND PROBLEMS TO OVERCOME IN ATTAINING THESE GOALS ARE DEALT WITH, (E.G., RESISTANCE FROM SCHOLARS WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE 'POLICE TRAINERS' AND LACK OF INCENTIVES TO MOTIVATE POLICE TO STUDY). APPENDIXES CONTAIN SURVEY DATA AND ENROLLMENT FIGURES FOR THE VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT ACADEMY, 1977. (DAG)