Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Criminal Justice
Advisor
Mark Stallo
Abstract
The number of police officers in the United States is decreasing amid ongoingrecruitment and retention issues. The low staffing levels compromise community and officer safety. Although criminal justice is a popular undergraduate college major, many graduates pursue other careers for reasons that are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to identify the reasons why some undergraduate criminal justice students are no longer interested in policing as a career choice. A phenomenological qualitative research design was used. The theoretical framework was rational choice theory. Eight undergraduate criminal justice students at Texas State University who were no longer seriously considering a policing career were interviewed about their decision using convenience sampling. The interview questions centered on identifying what makes a law enforcement career unappealing and what changes law enforcement agencies can make to heighten appeal. The interviews were transcribed and coded into codes, categories, and themes. Though responses varied, increased salary and a better focus on community involvement by policing agencies emerged as key recommendations for encouraging criminal justice students to pursue a policing career. Using the study findings, law enforcement leaders may be able to improve the recruitment of new criminal justice graduates and increase the number of officers, which may foster positive social change by bolstering public safety.
Recommended Citation
McMahon, Jessie, "Law Enforcement as a Career Choice Among Undergraduate Criminal Justice Students at Texas State University" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 12784.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/12784
