NCJ Number
12023
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1973) Pages: 241-248
Date Published
1973
Length
8 pages
Annotation
POLICE TRAINING HAS ONLY A MODERATE EFFECT ON RUCRUITS' CONSERVATISM, BUT IT PROMOTES SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN DOGMATISM.
Abstract
THIS STUDY EXAMINED THE HYPOTHESIS THAT POLICE TRAINING DOES NOT LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN A RECRUIT'S 'BELIEF SYSTEM' (WITH ATTITUDES SUCH AS AUTHORITARIANISM, RACISM, DOGMATISM), BUT THAT POLICE EXPERIENCE TENDS TO INCREASE THESE ATTITUDINAL TRAITS, THUS NEGATING THE WORK DONE AT THE ACADEMY. FORTY-FIVE STATE PATROL RECRUITS AT THE TENNESSEE ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ACADEMY WERE ADMINISTERED QUESTIONNAIRES TO MEASURE CHANGES IN SCORES ON ATTITUDINAL SCALES ON A PRESENT-POSTTEST BASIS. RESULTS SHOWED THAT TRAINING SEEMS TO HAVE ONLY A MODERATE OVERALL EFFECT ON THE CONSERVATISM SCORES OF POLICE TRAINEES. ON THE OTHER HAND, TRAINING DID SEEM TO PROMOTE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE DOGMATIC SCORES OF POLICE. A FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION EXAMINES THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POLICE AND THE TIME DEVOTED TO EACH FUNCTION DURING TRAINING. THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT IN REALITY POLICE UTILIZE ONLY ABOUT TEN PERCENT OF THEIR TIME ENFORCING THE LAW WHILE THE REMAINING TIME FALLS CHIEFLY INTO THE PEACEKEEPINGORDER MAINTENANCE AREA OR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT POLICE ACADEMIES DO NOT PROMOTE DESIRED ATTITUDINAL CHANGES EMPHASIZED BY THOSE WISHING TO USE TRAINING FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE VETERAN OFFICERS TEACHING AT THE ACADEMIES TEND TO BE MORE AUTHORITARIAN, CYNICAL, AND DOGMATIC THAN THE YOUNGER ONES, AND THE ACADEMY ALMOST TOTALLY EMPHASIZES LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE MORE AUTHORITARIAN FUNCTION OF POLICE.