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STAFF DEVELOPMENT TECHNIQUE

NCJ Number
48474
Journal
CORRECTIONAL TRAINING PERSONNEL Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (AUGUST 1976) Pages: 9-11
Author(s)
M A LYTLE
Date Published
1976
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF STAFF STUDY PROJECTS TO DEVELOP ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS AND POTENTIAL IN INSERVICE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL PARTICIPATING IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
MOST OF THE INSERVICE AND PRESERVICE STUDENTS IN THE CLEVELAND (TENN.) STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE PROGRAM HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT ORIENTATION, ALTHOUGH SOME HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN SOCIAL SERVICE OR CORRECTIONS CAREERS. PRESERVICE STUDENTS COMPLETE AN EXTERNSHIP COURSE INVOLVING 80 HOURS OF INTRODUCTORY FIELD EXPERIENCE IN A CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY. INSERVICE STUDENTS, PRIMARILY POLICE PERSONNEL, ARE OFFERED A STAFF STUDY EXTERNSHIP OPTION, WHICH INVOLVES PREPARATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE STAFF STUDY OF A POLICE AGENCY. THE STUDENTS USE A MILITARY WORKBOOK TO GUIDE THEIR STUDIES AND MEET WITH THE INSTRUCTOR TO DISCUSS THEIR PROGRESS AND SUCH TOPICS AS DECISIONMAKING PROCESSES, THE ROLE OF STAFF IN A CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY, LINE-STAFF RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE CONCEPT OF COMPLETED STAFF WORK. STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE STUDIES REPORT A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF LINE-STAFF RELATIONSHIPS AND OF THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVE WRITING AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF DATA, INCREASED CONFIDENCE IN RECOMMENDING CHANGES WITHIN THEIR AGENCIES, AND GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLANNING AND AGENCY EFFECTIVENESS. SEVERAL OF THE STUDENT STAFF STUDIES HAVE BEEN USED BY THE AGENCIES IN WHICH THE STUDENTS WORKED. THE STUDIES COULD BE USED BY POLICE AGENCIES AS INHOUSE STAFF DEVELOPMENT TOOLS.