Rethinking Criminal Justice Education: Applying Experience Credits towards CJ Degree Completion – Generates Dollars, but Does It Make Sense?

This article addresses a deceptively simple two-part question: what are the desired core skills obtained by completing requirements for an undergraduate degree in criminal justice? And is it possible to obtain these outside traditional university setting? Awarding academic credit training, time spent occupational roles, or life experiences, has been oft-discussed topic, and practice particularly germane justice programs due large proportion of adult learners returning school completion earn advanced credential broaden their career options. The history experienced-based credits higher education discussed within framework how CJ can be reimagined ways that support likely changes future personnel recruited educated wake recent deadly force incidents involving police nonwhite citizens, efforts address country’s reliance on mass incarceration.