NCJ Number
11008
Date Published
Unknown
Length
168 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ALLOW CIVILIANS AND POLICE TO MUTUALLY EXAMINE THEIR NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES AND RESOLVE THEIR ANTIPATHIES.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM INVOLVED LECTURES AND VISUAL AIDS, SMALL DISCUSSION GROUPS LED BY TRAINED LEADERS, FIELD TRIPS TO POLICE AND CIVILIAN SITES, AND SITUATIONALIZED ROLE-PLAYING. ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CONVEY THE MESSAGE OF THE PROGRAM TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY. THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM WAS ASSESSED BY EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION TESTS ADMINISTERED TO PARTICIPANTS BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE PROGRAM. RESULTS SHOWED THAT CIVILIANS ENTERED THE PROGRAM WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ITS SUCCESS, AND EXPRESSED A FEELING OF SATISFACTION THAT THE PROGRAM HAD ACHIEVED ITS OBJECTIVES. POLICE ENTERED THE PROGRAM WITH CONSIDERABLE SKEPTICISM, BUT REACHED THE END WITH A MARKEDLY MORE FAVORABLE VIEW OF THE PROGRAM. AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, BOTH CIVILIANS AND POLICE WERE MORE WILLING TO ADMIT THAT PROBLEMS IN POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE MUTUALLY CAUSED. APPENDED MATERIAL INCLUDES TESTS AND QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN EVALUATING THE PROGRAM AND A TYPICAL FORMAT OF A PROGRAM SESSION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)