NCJ Number
165422
Date Published
1993
Length
102 pages
Annotation
This report presents the methodology and results of an evaluation of the Spokane Police Department's (Washington) 1993 Community Opportunities Program for Youth (C.O.P.Y.), which provided opportunities for police interaction with 11- to 15-year-old juveniles from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Abstract
Over a 9-week period during the summer of 1993, the program served 335 youths from economically disadvantaged residential areas of the city. Each week, program staff, which included sworn and non-sworn personnel as well as volunteers, arrived at one of five community centers. The youths were then transported with their chaperons to sites where they participated in community service projects. The day included lunch at a park, followed by recreation, short educational lessons, and role-model interactions. The youths were then given a tour of a local business or municipal organization. The day ended with a bus ride back to the community center. On the last day of the 4-day program week, participants were driven to Fairchild Air Force Base, treated to lunch at a local restaurant, and then taken to a local bank, where $40 had been deposited in an account for each youth. Each week the program closed with a brief graduation ceremony. Evaluation data were collected from direct observations, focus group surveys with participating youths, telephone interviews with the youths' parents, and self-administered questionnaires completed by program staff. Overall, the data show that the program was successfully implemented in 1993 and even enhanced from the successful implementation of 1992. Data suggest that the youths benefitted from the program, that their view of police officers as positive role models was enhanced, and that the hypothesized connection between hard work and monetary award was made. 9 references and appended evaluation instruments