USE OF PARAPROFESSIONALS IN POLICE SERVICE

• NCJ Number: 38569
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 44 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1977) Pages: 52-56
• Author(s): W B Howard
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

IN THIS STUDY, STUDENTS ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS WERE EMPLOYED AS PARAPROFESSIONAL PATROLMEN IN AN EFFORT TO COUNTERACT POSITIVE CRIME TRENDS BY SUPPLEMENTING EXISTING PATROL FORCES.

Abstract

SUBSTANTIAL POSITIVE EFFECTS WERE NOTED, INCLUDING A DECREASE IN BOTH PROPERTY AND PERSONAL CRIME FREQUENCIES, MORE FAVORABLE STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE CAMPUS SECURITY DEPARTMENT, AND AN ATTITUDINAL RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN THE SECURITY DEPARTMENT'S OFFICERS AND THE STUDENT PARAPROFESSIONALS. THESE RESULTS ARE COMPARED TO THOSE OBTAINED BY METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE EXPERIMENTALLY MANIPULATED THE NUMBER OF PATROLMEN OR CARS WITHIN A DESIGNATED AREA. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MECHANISMS WHICH MAY MAKE PARAPROFESSIONALS ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING CRIME ARE DISCUSSED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)