NCJ Number
54788
Date Published
1977
Length
16 pages
Annotation
BALTIMORE COUNTY'S, (MD.) PROGRAM TO TRAIN POLICE IN INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE TRAINING PROGRAM IN BALTIMORE COUNTY ATTEMPTS TO INFLUENCE POLICE OFFICERS' PATTERNS OF COMMUNICATION WITH LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS. THE PROVISION OF HELP-PROVIDING INTERPERSONAL SERVICES IS SEEN BY SOME AS THE MAJOR FUNCTION OF POLICE WORK. EACH TRAINING MODULE IN THE PROGRAM EXPOSES A GROUP OF APPROXIMATELY 14 OFFICERS TO ABOUT 60 HOURS OF TRAINING OVER A 6-WEEK PERIOD. DURING THE MODULE, OFFICERS DISCUSS AND PLAY-ACT EXAMPLES OF THEIR CONTACTS WITH CITIZENS. THIS STUDY CONSIDERED SEVEN AREAS IN ITS EVALUATION: (1) ADMINISTRATVIE CRITERIA, (2) TEST AND SKILL ACQUISITION, (3) OFFICER PERCEPTION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRAINING, (4) CITIZEN PERCEPTION OF POLICE OFFICERS, (5) INTERACTION ANALYSIS OF POLICE AND CITIZEN BEHAVIOR, (6) ARCHIVAL DATA, AND (7) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION. FINDINGS SHOWED THAT 73 OFFICERS WERE TRAINED IN FIVE MODULES. THE PROGRAM ALSO GAINED THE SUPPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. OFFICERS IMPROVED THEIR ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE THE HELPFUL POLICE RESPONSE, AND PERCEIVED THE TRAINING TO BE HELPFUL TO THEM IN THEIR JOB PERFORMANCE. USING A SAMPLE OF LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS, IT IS PROPOSED THAT BRIEF TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS BE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE CITIZENS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE POLICE. A PLANNED ANALYSIS OF INTERACTION BEHAVIOR BETWEEN POLICE OFFICERS AND CITIZENS WAS DISCARDED DUE TO METHODOLOGICAL OBSTACLES. USING ARCHIVAL DATA, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A STUDY BE DONE OF THE KIND OF ARRESTS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDABLE. FINALLY, THE MERITS OF USING DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION AS A CRITERION MEASURE ARE DEBATED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION THROUGH CONFERENCES AND PUBLICATIONS IS DESIRABLE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MLC)