NCJ Number
58969
Date Published
1976
Length
43 pages
Annotation
PROBLEMS AND SUCCESSES ENCOUNTERED IN THE OPERATION OF THE CONFLICT CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING PROGRAM FOR 277 POLICE OFFICERS OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
APPROXIMATELY 80 PERCENT OF THE POLICE OFFICER'S TIME IS SPENT IN THE AREA OF SOCIAL REGULATION, ORDER MAINTENANCE, AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. MUCH OF THIS TIME IS DEVOTED TO INTERVENTION SERVICES IN CONFLICT SITUATIONS, SUCH AS FAMILY DISTURBANCE CALLS. THE MAIN GOAL OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM, DEVELOPED FOR THE SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WAS TO PROVIDE PATROL OFFICERS WITH A SET OF HUMAN RELATIONS SKILLS TO ENABLE THEM TO DEAL MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH DISTURBANCES. A CENTRAL PLANNING STAFF WAS FORMED TO SET GOALS, COMPREHENSIVELY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LEAA GRANT, AND LAY THE THEORETICAL BASE FOR THE PROGRAM. EACH OFFICER WHO COMPLETED TRAINING RECEIVED THREE COLLEGE CREDITS. A GENERALIST MODEL WAS SELECTED TO STRUCTURE THE PROGRAM BECAUSE OF ITS GREATER RELEVANCE; A NARROW-BASED PROGRAM DEALING ONLY WITH FAMILY DISTURBANCES WAS AVOIDED. SUCH FUNCTIONS AS HANDLING CRIME, ACCIDENT, AND DISASTER VICTIMS, DEALING WITH DRUG, ALCOHOL, AND MENTAL HEALTH CASES; AND FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION WERE INCLUDED. THE EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING THEORY WAS EMPLOYED THROUGH USE OF TWO METHODS. THE FIRST METHOD, INVOLVING THE USE OF VIDEOTAPES WHICH ACCURATELY REFLECTED POLICE FUNCTIONS. THE SECOND METHOD DICTATED THAT THE LEARNING OF SKILLS SHOULD BE RELATED TO THE ACTUAL SETTING INVOLVING A 'HANDS-ON' APPROACH TO TRAINING, UTILIZING A 6 WEEK PERIOD OF FIELD TRAINING FOLLOWING THE IN-CLASS, 2-WEEK PROGRAM, DURING WHICH DIRECT CONTACT BETWEEN COORDINATING TRAINERS AND TRAINEES WOULD CONTINUE INTERMITTENTLY. THIS PROCEDURE WOULD FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF LEARNING FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE STREET AND PERMIT CONTINUED FEEDBACK BETWEEN TRAINER AND TRAINEE. THREE INTERRELATED COMPONENTS OF THE TRAINING COURSE INCLUDED BEHAVIORAL SKILLS TRAINING IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES, SUBSTANTIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES OF CONFLICT AND CRISIS, AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AND THE USE OF HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY. DESPITE HIGH COST FACTORS, THE SYRACUSE EXPERIENCE WAS A VALUABLE ADDITION TO POLICE TRAINING EFFORTS. APPENDIXES AND DIAGRAMS ARE PROVIDED.