NCJ Number
57335
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 44 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1977) Pages: 44-46
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A PROGRAM TAUGHT BY REGULAR TEACHERS WITH POLICE AID IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE ATTITUDES OF YOUNGSTERS IN THE EIGHTH THROUGH TENTH GRADES BY HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF POLICE WORK AND THE SKILL IT REQUIRES.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM LITERALLY TEACHES LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES TO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: HOW TO LIFT LATENT FINGERPRINTS, HOW TO RUN A POLYGRAPH MACHINE, HOW TO PROTECT A CRIME SCENE. IT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD. DEPARTMENT OF POLICE AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WITH LEAA FUNDING. THE TEACHERS DO MOST OF THE INSTRUCTING, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK. THE POLICE OFFICER COMES IN FOR A SESSION WHEN THE TOPIC IS TECHNICAL OR WHEN THE TEACHER WANTS THE OFFICER TO DISCUSS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. CURRICULUM MATERIALS HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR UP TO NINE WEEKS OF INSTRUCTION. SAMPLES ARE GIVEN. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT IS TO REDUCE DELINQUENCY BY MODIFYING NEGATIVE STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE, SCHOOL, AND AUTHORITY. SEVERAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROCESSES ARE SET IN MOTION. STUDENTS GAINS AUTHORITATIVE KNOWLEDGE AND LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE -- THE LANGUAGE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WHICH HELPS THEM IDENTIFY WITH THE POLICE. PARENTS AND TEACHERS BOTH HAVE PRAISED THE PROGRAM AND ONE SCHOOL OFFERING IT HAS REALIZED SOME PRACTICAL BENEFITS: LAW ENFORCEMENT STUDENTS EAGERLY PROVIDED INFORMATION FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT OF VANDALISM. TECHNIQUES FOR DUPLICATING THE PROGRAM IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE GIVEN ALONG WITH AN ADDRESS FROM WHICH SAMPLE MATERIALS MAY BE OBTAINED. (GLR)