A college degree - is it worth the effort?
Current Trends in Criminal Justice Education
by Dr. Lou Harris
Author's Note: This article is based, in part, on the author's research
concerning institutional effectiveness of the criminal justice degree at Faulkner
University, Montgomery, Alabama during the 1999 accreditation review
by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools.
As early as 1931 the National Advisory Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement recognized the need for a university-type education for law enforcement officers as a means of improving police services to meet the needs of American society. In 1967 the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice explicitly called for a college degree requirement for police officers. Both commissions emphasized that technical training such as the use of firearms is essential but must be supplemented with a broad education to improve social awareness and interaction in a democratic society.
Based on public demand and federal monetary support, the number of universities offering criminal justice courses increased significantly during the 1960-70s (IACP, 1978). Many officers took advantage of funding through the Law Enforcement Assistance Agency (LEAA) and by the early 1980s almost one-half of all police officers received some college education (Moriarty and Field, 1994).
In 1993 Faulkner University began offering criminal justice courses leading to two and four-year degrees. In an attempt to access the effectiveness of the CJ curriculum and overall program objectives, semiannual contact was maintained with graduates since the first graduation in 1995.
By May 2000 eighty students graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Of these 80 CJ graduates, 40% (32) are currently employed in public or private safety. Twelve of the 19 law enforcement graduates were already affiliated with an agency and 9 of the 12 (75%) were promoted to a higher rank within one year of their graduation. Three of the 12 officers left local agencies for federal and state careers.
Career Field
|
No. of Students
|
Graduate School
|
Law Enforcement
|
19 (24%)
|
3
|
Law/Courts
|
14 (18%)
|
6
|
Corrections/Counseling
|
15 (19%)
|
3
|
Private Security
|
13 (16%)
|
1
|
Other
|
17 (21%)
|
0
|
Unknown
|
2 (2%)
|
Unknown
|
Based on these findings a college degree has clearly played a significant role in the careers of three out of four CJ graduates from Faulkner University. If these graduates are typical of those officers surveyed by the Police Executive Research Forum (Carter, et al. 1989), these graduates have above average (1) writing skills, (2) communications with the public, (3) overall job performance, (4) initiative, (5) wiser use of discretion, and (6) heightened sensitivity to racial and ethnic issues.
As we enter the 21st Century, the demand for better educated and trained law enforcement officers continues to exceed the supply. For instance, the college community in Montgomery, Alabama has witnessed recent recruiting efforts from police departments in Texas, Louisiana, and Virginia. Recruiters from these departments have expressed an interest in college graduates with experience and a major in criminal justice. At the same time intense recruiting efforts have been observed by middle-sized and large departments in Alabama.
While it appears that criminal justice curriculum and college programs are meeting the needs of law enforcement agencies, not enough officers are enrolled in college degree programs to meet the market demands. More incentives, tuition subsidies and flexible scheduling may provide the accommodations to increase the overall number of law enforcement officers who hold a college degree.
Bibliography
Carter, D. L., Sapp, A. D. and Stephens, D.W. (1989). The State of Police Education:
Policy Direction for the 21st Century. Washington, D.C. Police Executive
Research Forum.
Moriarty, A.R. and Field, M.W. (1994). Police Officer Selection. Springfield, IL:
Charles C. Thomas Publisher.
National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals, Report on the
Police (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1973).
National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement, Report on Police
(Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1931).