NCJ Number
16263
Date Published
1973
Length
91 pages
Annotation
APPRAISAL OF A PROJECT WHOSE GOAL WAS TO REDUCE CRIME THROUGH SPECIAL PROGRAMS IN THE AREAS OF POLICE TRAINING, POLICE PROCEDURES, AND POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS.
Abstract
A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO BOTH A GROUP OF JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND A GROUP OF CITIZENS WITHIN THE EXPERIMENTAL POLICE DISTRICT (EDP). A CONTROL GROUP WAS SELECTED FROM 25 CENSUS TRACTS THAT THE EVALUATORS JUDGED TO BE SIMILAR TO THE EDP. POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMS INCLUDED TECHNICAL, BEHAVIORIAL, AND IN-SERVICE TRAINING. COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROJECTS WERE COMPRISED OF A COMMUNITY BULLETIN, A CRIME PREVENTION PROJECT, LECTURES TO CITIZEN GROUPS, ORGANIZED YOUTH ACTIVITIES, AND NYPUM (NATIONAL YOUTH PROJECT USING MINI-BIKES). THE NYPUM PROJECT PROVIDED YOUTHS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MOTORCYCLE INSTRUCTION FROM HIGHLY QUALIFIED POLICE MOTORCYCLE PATROLMEN. INNOVATIONS IN POLICE METHODS INCLUDED TEAM POLICING, A MOTOR SCOOTER PATROL, SATELLITE POLICE STATIONS, AND THE FORMATION OF A FELONY SQUAD. DESPITE THE FACT THAT CITIZEN ATTITUDES TOWARDS POLICE IN THE CONTROL SECTOR ROSE TO A POINT DURING THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PROJECT THAT WAS NEARLY EQUAL TO CITIZEN ATTITUDES IN THE EDP, THE EDP CONTINUED TO OUTPERFORM THE CONTROL IN TERMS OF CRIME REDUCTION. BOTH CITIZEN AND STUDENT RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE ARE APPENDED.