OFFICER FRIENDLY - EVALUATING A POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 56170
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 69-71
• Author(s): J R K HEINEN; V J DERLEGA; N K EBERHARDT
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS ARE REPORTED OF AN EVALUATION OF A PILOT POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM IN NORFOLK, VA., PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Abstract

THE NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS DEVELOPED A POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM IN COOPERATION WITH THE NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADES. THE PROGRAM HAS PROMOTED CRIME RESISTANCE AWARENESS AMONG CHILDREN AND HAS STRESSED PERSONAL SAFETY IN THE HOME, NEIGHBORHOOD, AND STREET. THE PROGRAM, POPULARLY TERMED 'OFFICER FRIENDLY,' ALSO AIMS TO INCREASE CHILDREN'S AWARENESS OF LEGITIMATE SERVICES PERFORMED BY THE POLICE AND TO IMPROVE RAPPORT WITH UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS. AN EVALUATION EXPERIMENT DESIGNED TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM USED A 3X2X2 ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE, WITH CHILDREN'S RACE AND SEX AS THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLES. TREATMENT CONDITIONS WITH THREE GROUPS WERE AS FOLLOWS: (1) NO INVOLVEMENT (CONTROL)--CHILDREN WHOSE CLASSES WERE NOT VISITED BY OFFICER FRIENDLY AND WHO DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ANY MATERIALS USED IN THE PROGRAM; (2) MODERATE INVOLVEMENT--CHILDREN WHOSE CLASSES ONLY HAD ACCESS TO THE ACTIVITY BOOK; AND (3) HIGH INVOLVEMENT--CHILDREN WHOSE CLASSES WERE VISITED BY OFFICER FRIENDLY AND WHO HAD ACCESS TO THE ACTIVITY BOOK. CHILDREN FROM 21 SECOND GRADE CLASSES IN 7 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED IN THE EVALUATION. ALL THREE PROGRAM-INVOLVEMENT CONDITIONS WERE RUN IN EACH SCHOOL. SCHOOLS WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED FOR THE EVALUATION, WITH AN APPROXIMATELEY EQUAL BALANCE OF WHITE AND BLACK CHILDREN IN EACH CLASS. PRETEST AND POSTTEST DATA ON THE DEPENDENT MEASURES WERE COLLECTED AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR. THE CHANGE SCORES WERE BASED ON A JUDGE'S RATINGS ALONG TWO DIMENSIONS OF CHILDREN'S DRAWINGS ABOUT WHAT A POLICE OFFICER DOES ON THE JOB AND A PAPER-AND-PENCIL MEASURE OF OFFICER LIKING. FOR THE MALE SUBJECTS, THE PROGRAM (EITHER WITH THE CRIME RESISTANCE BOOK ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH THE OFFICER'S VISITS) HAD A BENEFICIAL EFFECT. FEMALES WERE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED. BLACK CHILDREN HAD LESS FAVORABLE ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE POLICE THAN THE WHITE CHILDREN. RESULTS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF INTERPRETATION AND IMPLICATIONS. DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)