COPS IN THE SCHOOLS - A LOOK AT POLICE-SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN

• NCJ Number: 19505
• Author(s): R Mulder; D Williams
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 94 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Michigan Office of Criminal Justice
• Corporate Author: Grand Valley State Colleges
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Bibliography
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT ASSESSES THE OBJECTIVES AND PROGRESS OF PSLPS (POLICE SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAMS) AND RECOMMENDS THAT THE OFFICER RETURN TO HIS ROLE OF LIAISON AND REFERRAL DROPPING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ROLE HE HAS ADOPTED.

Abstract

MAJOR CRITICISMS LEVELLED AT PSLP'S ARE THAT EITHER NO OBJECTIVES EXIST OR THAT THEY ARE SUFFICIENTLY VAGUE AS TO PRECLUDE EVALUATION. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT IN MANY OF THE SCHOOLS, BETWEEN 80 AND 90 PERCENT OF THE PSLO'S (POLICE SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICER'S) TIME IS SPENT ON POLICE WORK SUCH AS INVESTIGATING STOLEN PROPERTY REPORTS RATHER THAN ON COUNSELING, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE PROGRAM. THE AUTHORS ALSO SUGGEST THAT THE PSLO'S BE GIVEN SOME MINIMUM EDUCATION IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. THE AUTHORS ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE EMPHASIS OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMS HAS BEEN SHIFTED FROM CHANGING ATTITUDES TO CHANGING BEHAVIOR. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE RELATED MATERIALS, SUMMARIES OF ATTITUDINAL RESPONSES FROM THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND A 13 PAGE BIBLIOGRAPHY.