Monday, March 29, 2010

Public Service Agencies - Criminal Justice Programs

If as a professional in law enforcement you have always wanted a career in public service with a top government agency then obtaining a degree in the Criminal Justice System can open those doors for you. Getting started is as easy as taking a few minutes on your computer to research the many Online Criminal Justice Degree programs available.
You have already proven your dedication to law enforcement and obtaining your degree is a valuable asset for entry into an elite law enforcement agency. In today's strange and ever complex society the demand for qualified agents is on the increase. Society has entered a new world of international terrorists threatening our security with weapons of terrifying force. Play an important role in defending our nation's security by obtaining the skills necessary to advance in this ever-changing field.
Law enforcement professionals who hold a degree in the Criminal Justice System are more likely to be considered for careers in national security within government departments. Whether your passion leads you to Drug Enforcement or any number of Secret Service agencies your first step is obtaining a degree. It takes very little time to fire up your laptop and find the accredited Online Criminal Justice System degree that is right for you.
There is no need to sacrifice your family time or give up your current job while you continue your studies. Online Degree Programs are designed to give you the flexibility you need to study when and where it is most convenient for you. Virtual classrooms give you the support you need every step of the way with professors who understand your specific needs and time constraints. Choose to invest in a career that will give you and your family financial stability. Position yourself in a field with endless opportunities for advancement.
Many law enforcement agencies now require their staff to hold a degree in Criminal Justice as they recruit only the most qualified officers. Professionals in Law Enforcement are the ones being promoted as special agents and investigators. Obtaining your Online Degree in the Criminal Justice System will give you a solid base in analytical and communications skills, cultural sensitivity and advanced technology.
Set aside some time while enjoying your morning coffee to open up your laptop and research the many accredited Online Criminal Justice System Degree programs available. You will be amazed at how easy it is to begin a program of study that will fit your particular interests. With an online curriculum you will learn to make use of a superior education and enjoy expanded career options as well as an enhanced professional and personal life. Â
Increase your advancement opportunities by enrolling in an Online Degree Program in the Online Criminal Justice Programs [http://www.onlinecriminaljusticeprograms.info] right now. Be considered a leader in your profession and have your opinions taken seriously. You can play an important role in the way government agencies implement the nations security plans. Invest in your future and the future of the communities of our nation. The few minutes it will take now to choose the Online program in Criminal Justice that is best for you will open doors that you never thought would be possible and provide you with a challenging career that will last a lifetime.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Public Service With Cell Phones - Do Your Piece

It's 12AM and you are shutting down a night on the town. Strolling back to your car you become the unwilling witness of a hit and run. Luckily the driver manages to let off the break and steer away from most of the cars parked on the side of the road, the ice is slippery, but in the process the driver knocked the car parked in front of you, bashing the rear light and fender.

With a sigh of relief you grumble to yourself how things could have been worse but then all of a sudden the car who slid into the parked car is starting to drive away! A hit and run on the street, albeit minor, but still, aren't people supposed to stop in these situations. With a semi-deserted street the driver thinks he can get away with his misdemeanor. What should/can you do?

As you contemplate your next step a thought crosses your mind, 'maybe I'll intervene but not physically'. How so? Well your new cell phone is equipped with not only a useful and quality cell phone camera, but the latest video technology means you can capture quality real-time video as well. You switch on your phone and hit the video mode. Slowly as the car passes you you're careful to get a nice shot of the car, the driver's face, and even the licence plate as it rolls by. Using your cell phone as your weapon you have now become a vigilant citizen doing their part to keep some order and civility in the chaos around you.

Cell phones and wireless handheld devices these days are well equipped recording devices. Be it voice, video, or picture, the power in your palm is more useful than you think. Apart from the usual phone features (what phone is only a phone these days?) most cell phones come equipped with the ability to capture and send media. Record you voice records, videos, or quick shots, and send them across the globe. It is no wonder the greater public is fast becoming involved in maintaining the peace.

In fact, not are cellular devices able to accomplish the various captures, many wireless communication companies and service providers are getting on board too. In an effort to fight crime New York city has enabled a messaging system where regular citizens can email pictures to 911 to help investigations and captures of criminals (especially misdemeanors). Verizon has also enabled communication to your cell phone with 411 information on whereabouts and locations of your destinations. Even most news agencies for print or TV are now taking your phone camera or videos shots online (albeit a real-time system like the on in NY are not available yet.)

So don't be shy, stand at a safe distance from whatever event or occurrence and take some evidence to help take crazy drivers, stupid thugs, drunks, etc., and those hit and runs off the street.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Spending Public Service Money Wisely During Downturns

In the face of global economic hardship, people the world over are re-evaluating their spending practices.

From individuals and small businesses to government bodies, financial crises encourage everyone to tighten their belts - and also pay closer attention to the spending of public money. When people are paying more attention to their own spending, it is natural that their sights also become set on public services and how efficiently public money is being used to support them.

While a global economic downturn may to some extent change the spending priorities of many individuals, there are some public services that people almost unanimously believe should be supported no matter what the world-wide financial situation may be. For example, the UK's National Health Service, has faced many funding and financial problems over the years but the provision of effective and free healthcare remains a priority, even when money is tight.

Luckily, the help of best practice systems can afford organisations like the NHS ways to operate efficiently despite budget cuts. Prioritisation is key to ensuring that money is spent on the right thing and this is only more essential when money is short. By looking at long-term as well as short-term targets, it is easier for public sector managers to handle financial downturns and budget restrictions that could last for a matter of years rather than months. One way to achieve this is for organisations to ensure that the services they deliver are as effective as they may be, even if this means cutting services.

Making sure that the services that are given priority are the ones that are most necessary might mean losing face in some instances, but by playing to a long-term plan the public are likely to see the benefits of such organisational methods eventually. In the same vein, when public sector managers are able to ensure that their staff, management teams and specialists are working to the best of their abilities and skill sets they will find that money can also be spent more efficiently.

As many people working in public sectors have advanced training or skills, their time is valuable and if workload is inefficiently distributed, this valuable time could be being squandered on tasks below their level. Therefore, by ensuring that the best person for the job is the one doing it, managers will find that they are able to show that public money is being put to good work.

With the spotlight turning on the global financial situation, and more and more people wanting to get involved in the decision making process and hoping to see money used efficiently, there's never been a better time for public sector workers to re-evaluate their spending habits - for the benefit of everyone.

Monday, March 1, 2010

The American Public Education System: Adjusting to a New Era of Technology and Change

The world as we know it is changing in leaps and bounds on a daily basis. Our children are growing up knowing and using iPods and computers with gigabytes of data storage for all their music and video files. High-speed Internet has become a way of life where more young people subscribe to http://www.myspace.com, read, chat, and communicate with friends online than ever before. As the Internet marketplace continues to expand rapidly, and technologies afford education access from the ease and convenience of home, it is imperative that parents and educators recognize the benefits involved in education online.

The public education system in the United States grew out of an economy based upon single income workers, zero competition from outside markets for internal education consumers, and more manufacturing jobs than service jobs. The baby boomers born during the post World War II era, enjoyed the benefits of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Servicemen's Readjustment Act or the GI Bill of Rights, which granted affordable access to college education. The baby boomers of the United States catapulted into growth as a result of this, enjoying an unprecedented level of abundance and prosperity.

One of these baby boomers is President George W. Bush, who enacted the No Child Left Behind Act (NCBA), offering the societal challenge of making every child proficient in reading and math by 2012. A schoolteacher for more than thirty years, who now runs a management company for teacher training, described the resultant effect of this act upon the public school system as one which far exceeded the capabilities of what American public schools can currently offer.

Despite the grandiose claims of the NCBA, actual school performance began to decrease after the passage of the act and the United States, as a whole, fell behind in education.

Supplemental Educational Services

In 2004-2005, there were more than 22 million children eligible for "supplemental educational services", which includes tutoring. About 19% of those students got those services, or roughly two out of every ten students who were not proficient in core subjects, received aid. A good analogy would be a physician telling the parents of ten children that that they need medicine to cure an illness and only two out of the ten children can receive the medicine that they need.

The need for tutoring is obviously there. Why then is the current method of tutoring inadequate? There are principally four reasons why tutoring has been ineffective:

1) Schools can recruit tutors for students in rural areas and even fewer for those students in those areas with disabilities.

2) School districts do not tell parents that tutoring is available. When letters are sent home they often arrive late and are hard to understand.

3) Tutors are not allowed into schools and do not coordinate with teachers or the curriculum in the classroom, leaving the student confused.

4) State education departments do not evaluate the quality of tutors, as the law requires.

On one hand we have American schools and students failing and in need of remediation, operating under an outdated system of education, and money going to waste, and on the other hand we have an emerging technology platform based on high speed broadband technology that is leveling the playing field for people, and companies worldwide. This technology is one that not only attracts our children, but also captivates them, so that they return to computers and multimedia repeatedly for entertainment.