NCJ Number
16698
Date Published
1974
Length
21 pages
Annotation
AN EVALUATION OF A PROJECT TO CHANGE THE TREND TOWARD INCREASED INCIDENCES OF CRIME, DRUG ABUSE, AND NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD AUTHORITY BY YOUTH IN A RURAL AREA THROUGH THE EMPLOYMENT OF A RESOURCE OFFICER.
Abstract
THE RESOURCE OFFICER WAS GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH CONSTRUCTIVE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES IN THE AREAS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, PERSONAL ROLES IN CRIME PREVENTION, AND DRUGS AND THEIR ABUSE. FURTHER, HE CONDUCTED INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING WITH YOUTH AND COORDINATED THE EFFORTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROBATION, AND MENTAL HEALTH IN DIVERSION WORK WITH JUVENILES. THE EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT FOCUSED UPON CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUTH THROUGH THE PROGRAMS ESTABLISHED BY THE RESOURCE OFFICER IN THE SCHOOLS. BY USING PRE-TEST AND POST-TEST EVALUATION PROCEDURES IT WAS DETERMINED THAT CHILDREN FROM FIRST THROUGH THE EIGHTH GRADES DEVELOPED NEW CONCEPTS OR MODIFIED OLD ONES AS A RESULT OF THE FIRST LESSON OF THE SERIES. IN THE AREA OF ATTITUDES, IT WAS FOUND THAT POSITIVE ONES EMERGED FROM IDENTIFICATION WITH A PARTICULAR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSON. ATTITUDE CHANGE WAS LESS APPARENT AFTER THE SIXTH GRADE. WHILE THERE WAS SOME INDICATION OF CHANGES FROM NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE ATTITUDES AMONG YOUTH, THEIR RESPONSES WERE GENERALLY AMBIGUOUS, INDICATING THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN TEACHING THEM NEW CONCEPTS AND ATTITUDES. SUCCESSES WITH INDIVIDUAL YOUNG PEOPLE REFERRED TO THE RESOURCE OFFICER WERE CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT. THE QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN THE EVALUATION ARE INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX.