Author

Joan Lera Namoc
Philippine College of Criminology
Manila, Philippines
Email: joannamoc240@gmail.com

Abstract

Continuous professional development is essential for maintaining and enhancing the competence of criminology practitioners. This study examined the training needs of registered criminologists in Surigao del Sur to guide the development of a responsive CPD program. A total of 220 respondents were selected using stratified random sampling based on Cochran’s formula, while 10 key informants participated in focus group discussions. A validated researcher-made instrument was employed, with statistical analysis applied to quantitative data and thematic analysis used for qualitative insights. Findings revealed that 48.18% of respondents were aged 31-40, and 60.91% were male. A significant 96.36% held only a bachelor’s degree, while 52.28% had 6-10 years of professional experience. Most (91.36%) earned 51-100 CPD units in the past three years, suggesting strong compliance with requirements. The overall training needs mean score was 3.81 (High), with Criminal Law and Jurisprudence (Mean = 3.94) and Crime Detection and Identification (Mean = 3.90) ranked highest. Years of experience showed significant influence on training needs in key areas such as Criminal Law (p = 0.018) and Law Enforcement Administration (p = 0.009), while age, sex, and educational attainment did not. Thematic analysis identified five key barriers: limited access to specialized training, financial constraints, content mismatch, time constraints, and inconsistent quality assurance. Based on these results, a 24-month CPD program was proposed. This study provides critical insight into the development of sustainable, relevant, and experience-based training initiatives for criminology practitioners.

Keywords: respondent profile, training needs, criminology practice, professional experience, continuous professional development

DOI: http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS0404536

Recommended citation:

Namoc, J. L. (2025). Training needs of Registered Criminologists in Surigao Del Sur: Towards a continuous professional development program. Pantao (The International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences) 4 (4), 5811-5825. http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS0404536

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