NCJ Number
26607
Date Published
Unknown
Length
103 pages
Annotation
A FINAL EVALUATION REPORT WHICH ASSESSES THE NEEDS, OUTPUT, IMPACTS, AND COURSE CONTENT OF THIS PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THE POLICE RECRUIT WITH INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE POLICE ROLE.
Abstract
THE EVALUATION ACTIVITIES CONSISTED OF AN ANALYSIS OF THE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, A STUDY OF EACH OF THE MAJOR COURSE COMPONENTS, OBSERVATIONS OF COURSE OUTPUTS, REVIEW OF RECRUITS' PERSONNEL FOLDERS TO CHECK FOR CITIZEN COMPLAINTS, AND A SURVEY OF RECRUIT'S OPINIONS ON THE PROGRAM. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HRTP MET THE NEEDS FOR HUMAN RELATIONS TRAINING IN THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE AUTHORS STATE THAT TEMPLE, AT PRESENT, IS AN EXCELLENT SOURCE FOR THIS TRAINING SINCE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THE TRAINING IN TERMS OF STAFF AND ACTORS, ARE SUPERIOR. ANALYSIS OF THE COURSE REVEALED THE COURSE CONTENT, INSTRUCTORS USED, AND INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES USED WERE OF HIGH TRAINING QUALITY. HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT 18 HOURS OF THE SEVENTY-HOUR PROGRAM ARE USED FOR PENAL CODE INSTRUCTION. THE AUTHORS RECOMMEND THAT THIS PENAL CODE INSTRUCTION BE RESCHEDULED TO ALLOW FOR MORE HRT TIME. ADDITIONALLY, THEY STATE THAT VIDEO TAPE EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE STRONGLY CONSIDERED AS AN APPROACH FOR IMPROVING INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES. THE OUTPUT ANALYSIS SHOWED THE HRTP TO HAVE ADEQUATE OUTPUTS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF MEN TRAINED, HOURS OF COURSE CONTENT PROVIDED, AND SUBJECTS COVERED IN A TWO-WEEK COURSE. IMPACT ANALYSIS, ALTHOUGH NOT EXTENSIVE, HAS SHOWN THE OFFICERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED HUMAN RELATIONS TRAINING HAVE HAD LESS CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AGAINST THEM. OFFICERS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE COURSE AGREE THAT IT IS INDEED AN ASSET TO THEIR ROLE DEFINITION AND PERCEPTION SKILLS. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE A RECOMMENDED READING LIST, A TEMPLE UNIVERSITY EVALUATION, AND THE EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE.