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POLICE ACADEMY - A PSYCHO-STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

NCJ Number
1953
Author(s)
R N HARRIS
Date Published
1970
Length
402 pages
Annotation
A PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH STRATEGY WAS USED TO STUDY A POLICE ACADEMY'S TRAINING PROGRAM FOR RECRUITS.
Abstract
PART I INCLUDES THE PLACE OF POLICE WORK IN THE MORAL DIVISION OF LABOR IN AMERICA AND THE BACKGROUND OF THE COUNTY, POLICE DEPARTMENT, POLICE ACADEMY, ACADEMY STAFF, AND RECRUITS; AND A GENERAL PICTURE OF THE RECRUIT ROUND OF LIFE IN THE ACADEMY. PART II SUMMARIZES THE FINDINGS UNDER THREE BROAD AND INTERTWINED THEMES - DEFENSIVENESS, PROFESSIONALIZATION, AND DEPERSONALIZATION. THESE THEMES OPERATE ON A PSYCHOLOGICAL LEVEL AS WELL AS ON A STRUCTURAL LEVEL AND REPRESENT NOT ONLY MAJOR CONCERNS OF POLICE WORK, BUT ALSO RESPONSES TO THESE CONCERNS. PART III INCLUDES A SUMMARY, ANALYSIS, AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF PART II. THE CONCEPTS OF SOLIDARITY AND ROLE DISTANCE ARE THE FOCAL POINTS FOR ANALYSIS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) 95 REFERENCES