NCJ Number
7333
Date Published
1972
Length
126 pages
Annotation
GUIDELINES FOR ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAMS.
Abstract
THE PROBLEM OF COMMUNICATIONS FAILURES BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE PUBLIC IS A SERIOUS ONE. THE AUTHOR PROPOSES A VARIETY OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS TO FACILITATE UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE POLICE AND VARIOUS GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE NEED FOR TRAINING THE INDIVIDUAL POLICEMAN IN PUBLIC RELATIONS IS EMPHASIZED. POLICE PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS ARE OUTLINED, FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE. THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD BE PUBLICIZED THROUGH SCHOOL CONTACTS AND THE POLICE SPEAKERS BUREAU. A VARIETY OF OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE PROPOSED, SUCH AS POLICE STATION TOURS, POLICE CADET AND INTERN PROJECTS, A SPEAKERS BUREAU, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEWS-MEDIA LIAISONS. FINALLY, IN ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS, THE AUTHOR EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR CLEAR LANGUAGE RATHER THAN POLICE DIALECT IN COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC.