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History
Statement of Standards
Curriculum
Faculty
Students
Accreditation process
Re-accreditation
Accreditation fees
CACJP Procedures and Standards
Manual
To Obtain an Accreditation Application
History
The Commission on Accreditation of Criminal Justice Programs is a
division of the National Association of Forensic Counselors (NAFC), a not for
profit 501 (c) 6 tax exempt corporation. The Commission was formed in 2000 by
the NAFC as a result of a national survey and job task analysis of 1,237
probation and parole agents. The purpose of the survey and job task analysis was
to identify the educational needs of a minimally competent person entering into
the criminal justice specialty of probation or parole.
The results of the survey and job task analysis were reviewed and studied from
2000 to 2002 by a panel of subject matter experts (SMEs) consisting of
professionals working in the field of probation and parole which resulted in the
recommendation of educational standards for criminal justice students desiring a
career in the specialty field of probation or parole.
Statement of Standards
The Commission on Accreditation of Criminal Justice Programs has
officially adopted these voluntary standards for criminal justice education in
the specialty of probation and parole. The standards are applicable to the
following degree programs:
1. Associate degree programs
2. Undergraduate programs
3. Graduate programs
The standards and the accreditation program have two fundamental purposes:
1. To assure the quality of the program
2. To assist in the improvement of the program
Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Criminal Justice Programs is
a status granted to a criminal justice program that is part of an institution
which is regionally accredited, and has been found to meet or exceed the
Commission's standards of educational quality in criminal justice. It is the
goal of the Commission on Accreditation of Criminal Justice Programs to
complement the accreditation process by providing guidance to those programs
when needed through periodic evaluation and recommendation for new and
developing programs.
Accreditation provides the necessary certification that the standards of a
course of study are appropriate to the students career goals, and that the
program as well as the methods adopted in delivering it are likely to achieve
the stated outcomes.
Curriculum
The broad scope of criminal justice should be reflected within
the undergraduate program curriculum. The criminal justice major at the
undergraduate level should require 40 semester hours. All criminal justice
programs seeking program accreditation must have at a minimum the following
required core courses focusing on the following areas:
1. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY (analysis of delinquent behavior by juveniles, with an
emphasis upon the unique facets of delinquency which differentiates it from
other forms of criminal behavior, the legal rights, treatment, and
rehabilitation of juveniles who have been adjudicated delinquent, problems
inherent in police handling of juveniles and the purpose and functions of
juvenile courts)
2. INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE (examining
and bringing together all the components of criminal justice, including
relationships to both the adult and juvenile offender. Must provide an overview
of agencies and processes involved in the administration of criminal justice,
and examine the sociological and social psychological processes affecting the
criminal justice system. The primary topics must include: law enforcement
functions, crime prevention programs, the prosecutorial and defense functions,
judicial administration and decision making, institutional and community based
corrections, probation and parole.)
3. CRIME AND DELINQUENCY (examining the extent
and nature of crime in today's society, the nature of criminal behavior and
other forms of deviance. Major areas of study should include general
characteristics of crime and criminals, the causes of crime, offender typologies
and victimology.)
4. LAW ENFORCEMENT (providing an understanding of
the role and function of policing in a democratic society. Contemporary American
policing, law enforce-agencies, the characteristics of city, state and federal
police work, current issues and trends in law enforcement, race, sex, index
crime, drugs, disorder, conflict, and riot.)
5. CORRECTIONS ( history of the correctional system in the United States,
incarceration, treatment of offenders, community based corrections.)
All programs must have specific courses for those students desiring a career in
probation or parole that specifically focuses on the following areas:
1. COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS (examines and evaluates the philosophies,
criminological theories, and correctional procedures that are utilized in the
administration of community based agencies responsible for the treatment and
supervision of offenders
2. CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERVIEWING (techniques of
interviewing the client, victim, presentence investigation report, risk and
needs assessment, substance abuse screening, community resources, referral)
3. CASE MANAGEMENT (supervision planning,
selective intervention, limit setting, casework/control, client management
classification)
4. COUNSELING (counseling theory, directive
counseling, non-directive counseling, group counseling, psycho-educational
groups, individual counseling)
5. INTERNSHIP (the internship may be an elective.
The internship at a probation or parole department should be meaningful and are
related to the students career objectives)
Most undergraduate programs generally have courses to cover the above suggested
courses for students desiring a career in probation or parole or cognate courses
that are part of the liberal arts requirement.
The entire Core requirements are not required for associate degree programs,
however, 20 credit hours should consist of criminal justice courses.
Faculty
Faculty qualifications at institutions of higher learning are based on
educational attainment, and is part of the college or universities institutional
accreditation by their regional accrediting agencies. The Commission on
Accreditation of Criminal Justice Programs requires that all criminal justice
program applicants are from regionally accredited colleges or universities.
Students
Students that desire a career in probation or parole, and successfully complete
their course of study within an accredited criminal justice program are eligible
to take the certification examination for the "Certified Criminal Justice
Specialist" (CCJS) through the National Association of Forensic Counselors (NAFC).
The NAFC is the largest multi-disciplinary association in the United States with
33,000 members. The NAFC presently certifies through examination forensic
specialists in probation, parole, corrections, federal and state agencies,
private agencies, private practioners, the United States Army, and the United
States Coast Guard.
The NAFC examination is the result of a role delineation study which clearly
delineates the role of a probation and parole agent. The study provided the blue
print for the associations certification examination which has undergone
psychometric review resulting in a content valid examination with a cut score of
70 as a result of an Angoff panel of subject matter expert judges. The
examination consists of 105 questions which takes approximately 11/2 hours to
administer.
The examination is proctored by the criminal justice program professor or
designated institution proctor. The commission pays an honorarium for
proctoring.
If a student passes the examination he/she shall be provisionally certified
until they attain 4000 hours of work experience in probation or parole at which
time the student will become fully certified. The student internship or
practicum may be used as part of the required 4,000 hours of experience. A wall
certificate and wallet identification card are distributed to those passing the
examination.
Accreditation process
The applicant institution requesting accreditation review, upon
completion of the accreditation application becomes a candidate for
accreditation. Once the application is received and reviewed by the commission,
a date for an onsite review is requested. As a general rule, applicants for
accreditation should allow at least three months from the time of application
submission to a site review and Commission decision.
The onsite review is a two day process which consists of:
1. Two site reviewers reviewing the candidate criminal justice programs
curriculum.
2. An interview of the criminal justice program staff.
3. An interview with three program students (if considered necessary).
Upon completion of the onsite review, the entire commission reviews the visiting
site reviewers recommendations and makes the following determinations based upon
those recommendations:
1. 2 year accreditation (with recommendations to correct any found
deficiencies), or
2. 5 year accreditation (full accreditation, no deficiencies).
Once accreditation is achieved the accredited program is reviewed on a five year
cycle. An accreditation report is due annually and reviewed by the commission.
Reaccreditation
Reaccreditation is linked to the required annual reporting
process to allow for a lesser focus on inputs and a greater focus on outcomes
and future developments.
The application process for reaccreditation is the same as for initial
accreditation and includes the submission of documentation, addressing all the
criteria for accreditation. This provides the benchmark for the subsequent
reaccreditation process, and for evaluating any major changes during the period
of accreditation.
Accreditation fees
Application Fee --- $375.00 (must accompany application)
Site Visit Fee* --- $2,750.00 (due 30 days prior to review)
Annual Fee Accredited Program** --- $1,050.00 (due annually)
Candidacy Program --- $1,050.00 (due annually)
* Assumes a two day visit
($1000/person for first day + $375/person for second day). No additional fees
are assessed if a site visitor trainee accompanies the site visit team.
** The annual fee for both accredited and candidacy
programs include accreditation fee and reaccreditation site visit fee.
TO OBTAIN AN ACCREDITATION APPLICATION:
Call: 260-426-7234
OR
Fax a Request: 260-426-7431 OR
Email a Request:
CACJP@nationalafc.com
You May Also Mail a
Request to:
CACJP
PO Box 8827,
Fort Wayne, IN 46898
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