Does Institution Type Predict Students’ Desires to Pursue Law Enforcement Careers?

Abstract

Diversity in the field of law enforcement remains an issue, despite the popularity of the criminal justice degree. Prior research has typically been limited to surveying students from a single type of institution (historically black college & university, mixed-race institution, or predominately white institution). This is the first time a sample of students has been drawn from three different types of institutions. The current study examined whether institution type, race, gender, major, and perception of fair treatment were adequate predictors of a criminal justice student’s desire to pursue a career in law enforcement. Results revealed a significant interaction between the institution and gender. Academic major and perception of fair treatment produced significant main effects in the model. The theoretical and practical implications associated with these findings are discussed.

Acknowledgement

The opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and not necessarily endorsed by the US Federal Bureau of Prisons or the US Army.

Notes

¹ Some classes included both graduate and undergraduate students.

² χ² (7, N = 276) = 6.69, p = 0.46.

³ Percent concordant = 77.2 and Stuart’s Tau-c = 0.785.