Perceptions of alumni concerning their level of preparation for criminal justice careers: A pilot study

This pilot study examined the usefulness of a program assessment instrument. The instrument contains 18 knowledge-based competencies that may be important for a successful criminal justice career. A single, nonforwarding mailing was sent to all 2,304 alumni of a program. The subjects reported that all but one of the competencies are important and that the department should have primary responsibility for teaching nine of the areas. The subjects also responded that they were well prepared in eight of the competency areas. The study concluded that the instrument, with some modifications, may be effective for assessing programs.