NCJ Number
89028
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 56 Issue: 2 Dated: (April-June 1983) Pages: 128-141
Date Published
1983
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The proposed model for undergraduate police studies provides a graded program of instruction that moves from practical skills to their subsequent refinement with the introduction and development of basic discipline knowledge leading to increasingly sophisticated conceptualizations of policing skills and activities.
Abstract
With the systematic training and educational program envisioned, it would be possible to identify appropriate elements of the various training activities that would provide the foundation for subsequent advanced study. A credit system could ensure that these elements are appropriately rewarded, perhaps through integration with appropriate units from other degree programs. It would be important not to trivialize the study program by providing only simple skills learning. If programs were to address particular areas of relevance to police practice, a curriculum could be designed around problems or topics. Courses might cover such issues as the relationship between media coverage of events and subsequent outcome, the role of nonverbal behavior in the assessment of situations, and the social psychology of crowds and public order. Such topics would require a sophisticated discipline knowledge applied to the relevant police activity. The existence of such a curriculum would require the police service to support research that would yield relevant knowledge. The recommended approach lends itself to parttime study, which provides financial advantages. Officers with various ranks and responsibilities would logically participate in those courses that provide a sophisticated base of conceptualization for job policy and tasks. Twelve references are listed.