NCJ Number
59712
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
TRENDS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION ARE REVIEWED, WITH CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO CURRICULUM CONTENT AND TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF UNIVERSITIES AND EDUCATORS.
Abstract
IN 1967, THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE FOCUSED NATIONAL ATTENTION ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY PROBLEMS. THE COMMISSION STRESSED THE NEED FOR TRAINING MANPOWER TO CONTROL AND PREVENT THESE PROBLEMS. STILL, THERE HAS BEEN A FAILURE TO PREPARE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL FOR THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS, AND A MAJOR PROBLEM IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE HIGHER EDUCATION HAS BEEN THE HEAVY VOCATIONAL EMPHASIS ON MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (LAW ENFORCEMENT, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS). ANOTHER TREND HAS BEEN CURRICULUM EMPHASIS ON HUMAN UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEORY AND PRACTICE ARE INTEGRATED. FORCED GROWTH IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION HAS CONCURRENTLY NECESSITATED FLEXIBILITY IN THE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION SPHERE. RELATED TO THIS FORCED GROWTH IS THE TREND THAT UNIVERSITIES AND INDIVIDUAL PROFESSORS SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING STUDENTS. OTHER TRENDS ARE ACCOUNTABILITY, TRAINING MANPOWER TO MEET THE PROBLEMS OF CONTROL AND PREVENTION; RESEARCH, A MOVEMENT VOCATIONAL TO PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND CURRICULUMS; THE INTEGRATION OF THEORY AND PRACTICE; PRISON AND CONSORTIUM EDUCATION; AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF UNIVERSITIES VIA THEIR PROFESSORS TO PRESENT THE REAL PICTURE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO PRODUCE A WHOLISTIC APPROACH TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)