NCJ Number
197641
Journal
Criminal Justice Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2002 Pages: 439-470
Date Published
November 2002
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This article reports on an evaluation of a pilot project designed to teach children about local crime concerns and strengthen their support for a culture of lawfulness.
Abstract
The authors explain that as the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) opened borders between the United States and Mexico, concerns grew about increased opportunities for crime. In response, Mexican and American teachers collaborated on the Border Project, which was designed to promote knowledge about the law and infuse positive attitudes about lawfulness. This article presents the findings of a 6-month evaluation of the Border Project. The authors collected impact data from more than 814 students who were exposed to the Border Project in their junior high schools during 1998 and 1999. Results indicated that although students in Mexico and the United States learned the lessons presented in the project, their attitudes toward crime and lawlessness remained unchanged. The implication of this finding is that overall the Border Project will likely not have an impact on the future lawfulness of the students. However, the authors note that the Border Project had successfully achieved many of its goals, such as providing knowledge about the law. They suggest that their research results could inform the design of similar projects. Figures, notes, references