Evaluation of the Police Liaison Program

• NCJ Number: 90079
• Author(s): S Hunter; R LaTorre
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 103 pages
• Corporate Author: Vancouver Board of School Trustees
• Sale Source: Eric Document Reproduction Service
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Research Report 81-08

Annotation

This evaluation of Vancouver's (British Columbia) Police Liaison Program (PLP) to measure its effectiveness in decreasing the incidence of juvenile crimes, improving student attitudes toward the police, and influencing administrator, teacher, and student opinions about the program found generally favorable opinions about the program, but there was no evidence it had a significant impact on school crime.

Abstract

The PLP was established in Vancouver's elementary and secondary schools to improve police-community relations, increase understanding of the police role and of the individual's responsibilities in the community, and ultimately to reduce juvenile delinquency. The PLP began in April 1972 with one police liaison officer (PLO) participating in activities in one secondary school and six feeder elementary schools. A second officer began work in another secondary school and its feeder school 1 year later. Presently, 11 PLO's are assigned to 13 secondary and 71 elementary schools and annexes. Objectives of the PLP are to extend police participation in the school guidance program, act in an advisory capacity to determine methods in dealing with youths who harass students and teachers and cause other problems at schools, and to break down the barriers which have existed between police, students, and parents. Analysis of crime statistics revealed no evidence that the program had made a significant impact on the incidence of school crime. Attitude surveys indicated that having the program in schools had a significant impact on attitudes toward the police among secondary school students but not among elementary school students. Opinion surveys found that most of the teachers, principals, and students had positive opinions of the program. The school personnel presented some recommendations for program improvement. Appendixes include an example of a PLO's monthly report and plans, crime statistics, sample questionnaires, and survey results for elementary school teachers and students as well as secondary school teachers and students.