NCJ Number
201679
Date Published
2003
Length
76 pages
Annotation
This report presents the pretest/posttest training results from the Drug Law Enforcement School for Patrol Officers, which was conducted by the Minot State University for North Dakota law enforcement officers during June 13-15, 2000, and discusses how the training session influenced the participants and their agencies.
Abstract
The school provided training in the nature of drug trafficking and the techniques of drug investigation. The pretest/posttest indicated that all officers believed the training was relevant to their jobs and was delivered in a concise and competent manner. Forty percent of the officers ranked "drug recognition" as the most important component of the training. Eighty percent of the officers stated that some of the information presented had been addressed in previous training seminars they had attended. Regarding the impact of the training on individual participants, almost 75 percent of the officers indicated they had changed their approach to their current job tasks as a direct result of the training, with over 50 percent of the officers using training information either immediately after completing the course or within 1 week of its completion. Factors that inhibited the application of what they had learned included low levels of drug-related activities in their jurisdiction or limited department resources. Regarding agency supervisors' views of program impact, they believed that the training has increased officers' knowledge about drug enforcement. Sixty percent of the supervisors stated they had personal knowledge of officers using their training in the field. Those supervisors who observed increases in drug arrests also reported improvement in the quality of the evidence collected in those cases. Twenty-seven of the 28 supervisors interviewed indicated that the training was a good investment. Extensive tables and figures