NCJ Number
42546
Date Published
1974
Length
231 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EVALUATES A VARIETY OF THIRTY POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAMS ORIENTED TOWARD TARGET GROUPS ASSUMED TO HOLD UNFAVORABLE IMAGES OF POLICE.
Abstract
AT THE TIME OF THIS EVALUATION, SOME OF THE PROJECTS HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR FIVE YEARS AND OTHERS HAD OPERATED FOR SLIGHTLY LESS THAN TWO YEARS. THE PROJECTS STUDIED DIFFERED IN OBJECTIVES, METHODS, TARGET GROUPS, AND PERSONNEL; HOWEVER, ALL ASSUMED AN UNFAVORABLE IMAGE OF THE POLICE IN THE TARGET GROUPS AND SOUGHT TO CHANGE THAT IMAGE BY SOME MANNER OF INCREASED POSITIVE CONTACT BETWEEN POLICE AND THE TARGET GROUP. IN THE ABSENCE OF SIGNIFICANT PRETEST DATA, THE STUDY EVALUATED THE PROGRAMS THROUGH QUESTIONNAIRES THAT MEASURED EXISTING ATTITUDES AMONG PROJECT PERSONNEL AND MEMBERS OF TARGET GROUPS. SOME OF THE FINDINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS: DEPARTMENTS WHICH ORGANIZED PERMANENT CITIZEN GROUPS DESIGNED TO ELICIT CITIZEN INPUT WERE SOME OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROJECTS; AGENCIES REPORTING A LOW AMOUNT OF TENSION BETWEEN PROJECT OFFICERS AND NON-PROJECT OFFICERS TENDED TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THOSE AGENCIES REPORTING A HIGH AMOUNT OF TENSIONS; AND THOSE PROJECTS RECEIVING A GREAT DEAL OF SUPPORT FROM COMMAND OFFICERS AND THE COMMUNITY TENDED TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THOSE RECEIVING LESS SUPPORT. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERRED IN THE AREAS OF EVALUATION DATA, SELECTION OF TARGET GROUPS, GOAL DIRECTION, ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE, SELECTION OF STAFF, COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, AND CONTINUITY OF PROGRAM. SAMPLES OF THE QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN THE EVALUATION ARE INCLUDED....RCB