An assessment of the perceptions of policing as a profession among two-year and four-year criminal justice and law enforcement students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the occupational views of criminal justice and law enforcement students as they considered police work. In particular, the study attempted to determine if associations could be detected between the level of post-secondary education pursued by the students and a professional view of policing. The study involved the administration of a survey to over 500 students enrolled in 2-year and 4-year criminal justice and law enforcement college programs and indicated that 2-year students demonstrated a slightly greater propensity toward a professional orientation of police work than did 4-year students.