CRIME SCIENCE IN THE POLICE ACADEMY

This paper proposes the novel application of crime science within the police academy environment, using the Indonesian National Police Academy (Akpol) as a case study. While crime science is traditionally applied in community settings to prevent crime and disorder, this paper argues that similar principles can be effectively used within institutional settings where cadets are trained. Despite rigorous recruitment processes, cadets remain susceptible to criminogenic pressures within the academy due to environmental factors, hierarchical structures, and routine-based living arrangements. Drawing on the framework of Situational Crime Prevention (SCP) and literature on situational prison control, the paper outlines how targeted environmental and behavioural interventions—such as enhanced supervision, restructured routines, and rule enforcement—can mitigate opportunities for misconduct, violence, and systemic abuse. Central to this approach is the concept of pengasuhan (mentoring and supervision), which serves as a practical mechanism for embedding crime science principles into cadet routines and institutional culture. By integrating theory with practice, the paper suggests that crime science can play a transformative role in professionalising police education, preventing internal disorder, and shaping ethical policing habits from the outset of a cadet’s career. Recommendations are offered for policy support, regulatory frameworks, and incentive structures to institutionalise these practices across Indonesia’s police training system.