NCJ Number
78508
Date Published
1977
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This is an evaluation report of the Junior High Police/School Liaison Program, a 3-year pilot project conducted by the Edmonton (Canada) Police Department and the city's public and Catholic school systems.
Abstract
Program objectives include developing a preventive approach to crime; reducing the local crime level; and improving relations among police officers, students, school staff, and the community. Further objectives were developing and field testing materials and strategies for facilitating the above, reducing student damage to school property, and providing improved police resource assistance to students, school personnel, and parents. For program evaluation purposes, both a modified version of the Cincinnati City Policy Attitude Questionnaire and a Knowledge of the Law Questionnaire were administered to students. Principals, teachers, and the police officers responded to a questionnaire evaluating various aspects of the program and its strengths and weaknesses. Crime statistics for juveniles of ages 12, 13, and 14 were collected. Principals, teachers, and police officers overwhelmingly agreed that the program is valuable and should be continued for the third year. Program students expressed more favorable attitudes toward police and the law than control students, and they showed significant gains in their knowledge of the law and police duties. The decline in juvenile crime appeared to reflect a citywide trend. Tabular data are provided. An appendix lists Junior High Police/School Liaison Program activities. (Author summary modified)