TRAINING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT - A LOOK INTO THE 1980'S

• NCJ Number: 59986
• Journal: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 48 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 13-15
• Author(s): S B MILNER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TRENDS AND NEEDS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TRAINING IN THE 1980'S ARE PREDICTED, BASED ON EXTENSION OF PAST AND CURRENT TRENDS.

Abstract

CRIME WILL CONTINUE TO RISE, BUT THE PACE OF THE RISE MAY SLOW. PUBLIC DEMAND FOR BETTER CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF CRIME, ESPECIALLY VIOLENT CRIME, WILL CONTINUE. POLICE TRAINING WILL NEED TO BECOME MORE CRIME SPECIFIC. TECHNOLOGY WILL BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON BOTH CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND NEW FORMS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND MORE DIFFICULT DETECTION AND APPREHENSION WILL RESULT FROM ELECTRONIC BANKING, GROWING USE OF CITIZEN'S BAND RADIOS, AND THE POSSIBILITY FOR COMPUTER CRIME. INCREASING EMPHASIS ON CONSUMER PROTECTION AGAINST GROUPS RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES WILL NECESSITATE A CORRESPONDING SHIFT IN CRIME CONTROL. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EXPENDITURES AND MEANS OF SAVING ENERGY RESOURCES WILL RECEIVE INCREASING ATTENTION FROM STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL CHANGES WILL PRODUCE A RISE IN CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY. DOMESTIC DISTURBANCES WILL CONTINUE TO DEMAND THE MAJOR PART OF OFFICERS' TIME. COUNSELING, INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, AND APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY AND DECISIONMAKING WILL RECEIVE INCREASING EMPHASIS IN TRAINING. POLICE RECRUITMENT AND PROMOTIONAL PRACTICES DESIGNED TO INCREASE NUMBERS OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES AMONG THE POLICE MAY NECESSITATE EMPLOYING PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS TO HANDLE THE INCREASINGLY DIVERSE RECRUITS. PARTICIPATORY DECISIONMAKING, INCREASED UNIONIZATION, CIVILIAN INVOLVEMENT IN POLICE WORK, DUAL RECRUITMENT PROCESS SIMILAR TO THAT IN EUROPE PERMITTING LATERAL TRANSFERS OF SUCH SPECIALISTS AS LAWYERS, ARE ISSUES FOR THE FUTURE. LICENSING OF POLICE OFFICERS WILL BECOME COMMONPLACE AND ACCREDITATION PROGRAMS FOR BOTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE PROGRAMS AND POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMS WILL BECOME STANDARD PRACTICES. THE RESULT WILL BE BOTH CHALLENGES AND FRUSTRATIONS FOR POLICE TRAINERS. FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)