NCJ Number
51808
Journal
CRIME ET/AND JUSTICE Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (1977) Pages: 126-130
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN WITH SUPPORT FROM THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IN CANADA TO FOSTER POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM.
Abstract
THE BASIC PREMISE OF THE STUDY EFFORT WAS THAT THE OBJECTIVE PRESENTATION OF FACTUAL INFORMATION IN A CLASSROOM SETTING WILL BRING STUDENT CONCEPTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CLOSER TO THE CONCEPTS OF PERSONNEL OPERATING THE SYSTEM AND THEREBY HELP TO REDUCE THE POLARITY THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE SYSTEM. WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FRAMEWORK IN MIND (POLICE, COURTS, CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES, AND THE COMMUNITY), AN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM WAS ORGANIZED TO EXAMINE THE SYSTEM AND ITS VARIOUS SEGMENTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONING IN TERMS OF VALUES SOCIETY DEEMS ESSENTIAL FOR ITS PROTECTION. TWO QUESTIONNAIRES WERE DEVISED TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CURRICULUM. THE FIRST WAS A KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONNAIRE AND THE SECOND WAS AN ATTITUDE QUESTIONNAIRE. BOTH KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES WERE INFLUENCED TO A GREAT EXTENT BY PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES. ATTITUDE WAS MORE OR LESS INDEPENDENT OF KNOWLEDGE. SPECIAL ACADEMIC COURSES SERVED TO IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE, ALTHOUGH AN INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE DID NOT RESULT IN A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE. REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED. THE QUESTIONNAIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED. (DEP)