LONGITUDINAL EVALUATION OF A POLICE-SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAM - THE EXPERIENCE OF THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE

• NCJ Number: 53778
• Author(s): R MULDER; D WILLIAMS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION, WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 1977 - PANEL 28

Annotation

USING A CLUSTER AND STRATIFIED SAMPLE OF 4,923 SCHOOL CHILDREN, THE IMPACT OF MICHIGAN STATE'S POLICE-SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAM (PSLP) ON YOUTHS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE POLICE IS EXAMINED.

Abstract

PSLP BEGAN IN 1966 WITH THE MULTIPLE ROLES OF INVESTIGATION, RESOURCE, AND ATTITUDE CHANGE AGENTRY. OVER TIME THESE FUNCTIONS DWINDLED, AND A LIAISON FUNCTION TOOK THEIR PLACE. FISCAL CONSIDERATIONS FORCED THE PROGRAM'S END IN 1974. THIS EVALUATION EXAMINED THE PROPOLICE ATTITUDES OF STUDENTS IN THE PSLP TERRITORY. IN TWO SCHOOLS FALLING IN PSLP DISTRICTS AND ONE CONTROL SCHOOL, STUDENTS WERE ADMINISTERED ATTITUDINAL SURVEYS AT FOUR TIME INTERVALS: IN FALL 1968--BEFORE ASSIGNMENT OF THE FIRST OFFICER; SPRING 1970--1 YEAR AFTER THE OFFICER'S ASSIGNMENT; SPRING 1973; AND SPRING 1974--JUST PRIOR TO THE GRADUATION OF THE ORIGINAL COHORT OF SEVENTH GRADERS. INSTRUMENTS WERE CONSTRUCTED TO ASCERTAIN RESPONDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE (BOTH GENERAL AND SPECIFIC), ATTITUDES TOWARDS SCHOOL TEACHERS, WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE WITH THE POLICE, AND THE RESPONDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE HELD BY FRIENDS AND PARENTS. SURVEY DATA WERE SUPPLEMENTED BY INTERVIEW DATA OBTAINED FROM SPEAKING WITH STUDENTS, SCHOOL PERSONNEL, AND POLICE PERSONNEL. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PSLP HAD LITTLE PERCEPTIBLE INFLUENCE ON STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE POLICE, EITHER POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY. SUPPORT FOR THE POLICE AND POLICE FUNCTIONS WAS HIGH BOTH IN THE PSLP SCHOOLS AND IN THE CONTROL SCHOOL, BUT WAS SOMEWHAT LOWER IN THE HIGHER GRADES AND DECLINED OVER THE 6 YEARS. IT IS FELT THAT, DUE TO THE CHANGE IN PROGRAM EMPHASIS, A LONGITUDINAL DESIGN WAS NOT THE MOST APPROPRIATE DESIGN. HOWEVER, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO MODIFY THE PROGRAM EVALUATION IN MIDSTREAM. TABLES ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MLC)