Preparation of Current and Future Law Enforcement Officers in an Academic Setting: A Case Study
Abstract
Given the complexity of policing, the demand for public accountability, and the varied educational requirements of entry level police work, the purpose of this case study was to explore how well a college known for its criminal-justice focus prepared students to become leaders in their current and future law enforcement careers. This case study was responsive to the increased attention members of law enforcement have received in the media in recent years, specifically about alleged misconduct toward people of color. To address the low level of public confidence in the police, this case study explored how a public post-secondary institution in an urban East Coast city, John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York, prepared students to be police leaders, even when communities may mistrust the police. Several best practices employed by John Jay College of Criminal Justice to support the preparation of current and future law enforcement officers were uncovered. First, the College fully embraced justice on all levels, not merely criminal justice, to prepare all students for their future careers. Second, John Jay’s two law enforcement programs (NYPD Leadership Program and APPLE Corps) were programs specifically created for the educational preparation of current and future law enforcement to support the New York City Police Department, which was the largest police department in the United States at the time of this research. Finally, the College prepared students to work with diverse New York City communities by nature of its diverse student body and diverse educational curriculum.
Subject Area
Educational leadership
Recommended Citation
Hernandez-Khan, Jennifer, "Preparation of Current and Future Law Enforcement Officers in an Academic Setting: A Case Study" (2019). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI22621650.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI22621650
