CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SECURITY IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
SAFETY, SECURITY, AND SOCIAL CONTROL IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Please submit your abstract for the Eleventh Biennial International Conference Criminal Justice and Security in Central and Eastern Europe (26 to 27 September, 2016, Ljubljana, Slovenia) before March 18, 2016 using the abstract submission form below. The abstracts may also be submitted in the Word-for-Windows format to the following e-mail address: gorazd.mesko@fvv.uni-mb.si.

See possible conference topics

Abstract Example

Title:
The Perceived Value of College Education and Experience to Police Work in Slovenia

Author(s):
Jason Rydberg, Mahesh K. Nalla, Gorazd Meško

Purpose:
This paper examines the distribution of officer demographic characteristics on dispositions across the perceived value of both college education and experience to police work in the post-independent Slovenia.

Design/methodology/approach
Using the responses of 995 Slovenian police officers, the present analysis utilizes bivariate tests of significance to examine how characteristics such as education level, experience, and occupational role are related to the perceived value of college education and experience to police work.

Findings:
Overall, the officers in the sample perceived experience to be far more beneficial to their work than college education. In terms of specific officer characteristics, college educated officers and female officers perceived college education to be beneficial to their work, relative to high school educated, male colleagues. In terms of experience, less experienced officers, younger officers, and those with lower salaries perceived experience to be more beneficial than their more experienced, older, well-compensated counterparts. There were also differences among occupational groups, with patrol officers finding experience more beneficial.

Research limitations/implications:
Given that the data were not drawn from a study specifically focused on the perceived benefits of education or experience, the dependent measures could be improved.

Originality/value:
Though much research in the United States has sought to examine the effect of gaining a college education on police attitudes and behaviors, little research has examined the extent to which police officers themselves perceive college education and experience to be beneficial to their work, particularly in Eastern Europe.

Keywords: Slovenia Police, college education, experience, police attitudes

About the author(s): Name, affiliation, research and teaching, main achievements in the last 5-10 years, and contact information (e-mail, telephone, fax).