NCJ Number
93115
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1984) Pages: 66-73
Date Published
1984
Length
8 pages
Annotation
An analysis of change in the administration of police recruit training between 1952 and 1982 in the same departments studied by Frost (1954) examines the variables of organization level, facilities, staffing (the same variables examined by Frost), as well as the additional variables of workload, frequency of training, and staff rank and function.
Abstract
Data for the 1982 study were obtained through a mailed questionnaire. Responses were received from 31 departments (72 percent response), but three of these departments were removed from further analysis because they did not have their own recruit training. Of the 28 remaining departments, only 18 had responded to the 1952 questionnaire. The findings document the rise of recruit training from the state of a seeming afterthought to police agencies to its current status as a major departmental function. Training has moved from unit to divisional status, from meager surroundings to its own facilities, and from a poorly staffed to a well-staffed endeavor. While the Frost study found that recruit training was not well established in the departments examined, the findings 30 years later indicate that such training is well established. Additional findings show that entry training is a stable function with full-time, command rank administrative staff. The departments are also able to meet demands with a favorable staff-student ratio. Overall, entry-level training is recognized as providing a vital service to the operational units and has sufficient facilities, personnel, and support. Tabular data and seven references are provided.