NCJ Number
96291
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1984) Pages: 412-424
Date Published
1984
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Practices in police human relations training, which are a part of the State-mandated minimum basic recruit programs conducted by Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commissions, were examined in regard to adequacy of centrally developed course guidelines, considerations that determine the length of training, and nomenclature of courses.
Abstract
Letter and telephone requests brought in curricula with descriptive materials from 38 of the 49 States with State-mandated minimum basic training. In only 15 States have the POST commissions clearly indicated complete course descriptions consisting of course content, course goal, and performance objectives. In all the courses offered in the 38 States, content is specified in 198 courses, goals are described in 153 courses, and performance objectives are provided for the same number of courses. The average proportion between total basic training and human relations hours is 7.7. The range of basic training is between 120 and 640 hours; hours allotted to human relations training vary widely -- 3 to 77. An important reason for the low correlation between the total basic training and human relations training hours is the way the States approach this training. Course nomenclature also varies widely. Virtually all the POST commissions believe that standardization will help in the discrimination and exchange of ideas in the field. Broad agreement and understanding regarding the titles of the major courses in human relations are expected to prove beneficial. The appendixes list the human relations course nomenclature for each State and indicate the existing and suggested nomenclature for various topical areas in human relations training. Seven references are listed.