NCJ Number
54380
Date Published
1975
Length
107 pages
Annotation
PERCEPTIONS OF ROLE REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICE ARE COMPARED FOR THREE GROUPS OF STUDENTS ATTENDING TWO JUNIOR COLLEGES LOCATED IN ILLINOIS, NEAR ST. LOUIS, MO.
Abstract
STUDY SUBJECTS INCLUDED 396 PRESERVICE LAW ENFORCEMENT MAJORS, EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS ALSO MAJORING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND STUDENTS NOT MAJORING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. ALL THREE GROUPS AGREED THAT COLLEGE EDUCATION IS ESSENTIAL TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE POLICE ROLE, BUT EXPERIENCED OFFICERS WERE LEAST LIKELY TO HOLD THIS BELIEF. STUDENTS WHO HAD COMPLETED MORE THAN 1 YEAR OF COLLEGE PLACED A PARTICULARLY HIGH VALUE ON EDUCATION FOR POLICE OFFICERS. ALL THREE GROUPS ALSO AGREED THAT MORE DIRECT AND PRACTICAL POLICE APPROACHES ARE NEEDED BECAUSE OF EXISTING CONDITIONS IN SOCIETY AND THE RELATIVE INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THIS ATTITUDE OF PRAGMATIC REALISM WAS PARTICULARLY STRONG AMONG EXPERIENCED OFFICERS, LEAST STRONG AMONG NONLAW ENFORCEMENT MAJORS, AND STRONGER IN STUDENTS FROM LOW SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS THAN IN STUDENTS FROM HIGHER SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS. THE THREE GROUPS ALSO AGREED THAT THE QUASI-MILITARY POLICE ORGANIZATION IS LEGITIMATE AND NECESSARY. THIS BELIEF WAS ESPECIALLY STRONG AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT STUDENTS IN GENERAL, AND AMONG PRESERVICE MALE LAW ENFORCEMENT STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR. STUDENTS WHO HAD COMPLETED MORE THAN 1 YEAR OF COLLEGE WERE LESS LIKELY THAN OTHERS TO AGREE WITH THIS MEASURE OF CONFORMITY TO AUTHORITY. ALL THREE GROUPS AGREED THAT POLICE REFORM, PROGRESSIVE POLICE ADMINISTRATION, AND SOCIAL CHANGE ARE NECESSARY. NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES AMONG THE THREE GROUPS ON THESE MEASURES OF LIBERALISM WERE RECORDED. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS FOR POLICE PERSONNEL PRACTICES AND OTHER ASPECTS OF POLICE MANAGEMENT AND POLICYMAKING ARE DISCUSSED. THE PAUCITY OF MINORITY AND FEMALE STUDENTS IN THE STUDY POPULATION IS NOTED. SUPPORTING DATA, A COPY OF THE STUDY INSTRUMENT, AND A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)