EXPLORATORY STUDY OF CHANGES ACCOMPANYING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMMUNITY-BASED, PARTICIPATORY TEAM POLICE ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL

• NCJ Number: 34714
• Author(s): J E ANGELL
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 230 pages
• Grant Number(s): 74-NI-99-1002
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY - DISSERTATION

Annotation

THIS RESEARCH EXAMINED THE ATTITUDES OF CITIZENS, POLICE, AND CLIENTELE IN THE AREAS POLICED BY THE HOLYOKE (MA) POLICE TEAM AND COMPARED THESE ATTITUDES WITH THOSE IN A SIMILAR NEIGHBORHOOD POLICED BY REGULAR POLICE UNITS.

Abstract

THE RESEARCH FOUND THAT CITIZEN ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE WERE MORE POSITIVE IN THE TEAM AREA AND TENDED TO CHANGE IN AN INCREASINGLY MORE POSITIVE DIRECTION. CLIENT ATTITUDES ALSO WERE MORE POSITIVE WITH THE SAME TENDENCY TOWARD POSITIVE CHANGE. TEAM OFFICERS PREFERRED TO USE INFORMAL SOLUTIONS TO CLIENT PROBLEMS SHORT OF LEGAL SANCTION MORE THAN DID REGULAR OFFICERS AND WERE MORE FAVORABLE TOWARD INVOLVING THEMSELVES IN A WIDER RANGE OF ACTIVITIES. TEAM OFFICERS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS PREJUDICED THAN POLICE OFFICERS IN THE REGULAR POLICE AREA. THE AUTHOR INCLUDES AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF TEAM POLICING LITERATURE AND A SUBSTANTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY.