Criminal justice curriculum development in California community colleges, 1930-1980

The purpose of this study was to trace the historical evolution of criminal justice/law enforcement education in California community colleges from 1930 to 1980. Law enforcement is one of three curricular components within criminal justice education. The other two are corrections and courts. Specifically, the influence of the California community college criminal justice education on three major law enforcement issues was examined. These three issues were: (1) the increasing scope of pre-employment selection standards; (2) the development and standardization of pre-employment training; (3) the professionalization of law enforcement through increased preservice and inservice educational standards. Particular attention was given to the relationship between law enforcement education and training.;This was a historical study based on research of existing published and unpublished documents about law enforcement trends, the history of the California community colleges, the evolution of criminal justice education, and the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.;This study reflects that California community college criminal justice/law enforcement education has had a definite influence on law enforcement in our state. Specifically, the community college administration of justice (AJ) curriculum provides students with the opportunity to incorporate AJ studies with a broad base of general education courses. The importance of this balanced approach, which enhances students' awareness of historical, philosophical, psychological, and sociological influences, cannot be over-emphasized.;Thus, this study reflects that the California community college criminal justice program has played a major role in the professional growth of policing in California.;On a larger scale, five major social trends provided the environment for change that were explored as a backdrop to these issues. They included population growth and change, urbanization, scientific and technological advancement, professionalization of the work force, and development of community colleges and vocational education.