NCJ Number
30082
Date Published
1974
Length
199 pages
Annotation
A STUDY SEEKING TO IDENTIFY THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN SOCIETY; TO DETERMINE, ON THE BASIS OF THAT ROLE, WHAT THE GOAL OF POLICE EDUCATION SHOULD BE; AND TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICE EDUCATION IN MEETING ITS GOAL.
Abstract
THE POLICE ROLE IS DEFINED IN TERMS OF THE BASIC FUNCTIONS WHICH THEY SERVE. IT IS SUGGESTED, ON THE BASIS OF THE LITERATURE WHICH HOLDS THAT EDUCATION CHANGES ATTITUDES, THAT THE GOAL OF POLICE EDUCATION SHOULD BE THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNBIASED ATTITUDES TOWARD SELF, OTHERS, AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS. TO SEE IF POLICE EDUCATION ACCOMPLISHED THIS, ATTITUDE TESTS WERE ADMINISTERED TO SYRACUSE, NY, POLICE OFFICERS, AND TO POLICE SCIENCE STUDENTS UPON BEGINNING AND COMPLETING TWO YEAR PROGRAMS AT A LOCAL COLLEGE. AMONG THE POLICE OFFICERS, NO SIGNIFICANT CORRELATION WAS FOUND BETWEEN TOLERANCE OF ATTITUDES AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL. NOR WAS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE FOUND BETWEEN THE TOLERANCE OF STUDENTS AT THE OUTSET AND COMPLETION OF THEIR STUDIES. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT POLICE EDUCATION IS NOT ACHIEVING ITS GOAL, AND THAT AS LONG AS POLICE ROLES REMAIN RELATIVELY UNCHANGED, POLICE EDUCATION WILL HAVE NO IMPACT.