Challenges and opportunities for minority students at police academies: A national sample

Abstract

This article examines institutional factors influencing graduation rates for police trainees of different races and ethnic groups. The study is based on the Census of Law Enforcement Training Academies data collected in 2013 and 2018. It uses both analysis of variance and ordinary least squares regressions to analyze the data. Overall, the article reports a statistically significant improvement for Hispanic trainees’ graduation rates when comparing 2013 and 2018. However, the same was not true for Black students at the police academies who continued to trail in 2018 compared with both White and Hispanic students. Our findings show that the length of the program and the location of the academy in the South were negatively influencing the graduation rates for all groups of cadets in both datasets. Other findings show that minority trainees were more likely to succeed where minimum education requirements for the instructors were in place, academies were affiliated with academic institutions, field training was the preferred mode of instruction, and where dormitories were not present.