NCJ Number
132
Date Published
Unknown
Length
164 pages
Annotation
A PILOT PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED BY THE NEWARK HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO MODIFY RECIPROCAL ATTITUDES OF SUSPICION AND HOSTILITY BETWEEN CITIZENS AND THE POLICE.
Abstract
CIVILIANS AND POLICE OFFICERS WERE TRAINED TO CONDUCT LECTURES AND SMALL GROUP AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS. ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE CIVILIANS AND 138 POLICE PARTICIPATED IN 5 FOUR WEEK PROGRAMS UTILIZING LECTURES, DISCUSSION GROUPS, FIELD TRIPS AND ROLE PLAYING. PRE AND POST PROGRAM QUESTIONNAIRES REVEALED NO BASIC ATTITUDE CHANGE BETWEEN POLICE OR CIVILIANS. HOWEVER, INCREASED POLICE AWARENESS OF THEIR IMAGE AMONG CIVILIANS, AND NUMEROUS CONSTRUCTIVE COMMUNITY RELATIONS EFFORTS FOSTERED BY THE PROJECT, ARE CITED AS INDICANTS OF PROGRAM SUCCESS. PROGRAM STRUCTURE CONTENT AND RESEARCH ANALYSES ARE DETAILED AS ARE IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY.