OFFICER FRIENDLY - CHANGING CHILDREN'S ATTITUDES ABOUT THE POLICE

• NCJ Number: 57664
• Author(s): V J DERLEGA; J R K HEINEN; N K EBERHARDT
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 24 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PREPARED AT OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY

Annotation

AN 'OFFICER FRIENDLY' PROGRAM CONDUCTED BY POLICE IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OF NORFOLK, VA., TO PROMOTE CRIME RESISTANCE AMONG CHILDREN IS EVALUATED.

Abstract

PART OF THE PROGRAM WAS AIMED AT EXPLAINING THE POLICE OFFICER'S ROLE AND ENHANCING RAPPORT BETWEEN CHILDREN AND UNIFORMED OFFICERS. TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF THIS PART OF THE PROGRAM, SECOND-GRADE STUDENTS IN 21 CLASSES WERE ASSIGNED TO 3 CONDITIONS: (1) VISITS FROM OFFICER FRIENDLY PLUS ACCESS TO A CRIME RESISTANCE ACTIVITY BOOK; (2) ACCESS TO THE BOOK, BUT NO VISITS; AND (3) NO BOOK AND NO VISITS. THE VISITING OFFICERS TALKED TO THE CHILDREN ABOUT CRIME RESISTANCE AND PERSONAL SAFETY, EXPLAINED THEIR WORK ROLE, USED A PUPPET SHOW TO ILLUSTRATE POLICE ACTIVITIES, DISCUSSED THEIR FAMILIES AND PERSONAL INTERESTS, AND TOOK CHILDREN ON A TOUR OF A POLICE CAR. THE ACTIVITY BOOK ALSO FOCUSED ON CRIME RESISTANCE AND THE POLICE ROLE. BEFORE AND AFTER THE SCHOOL YEAR DURING WHICH THE EVALUATION TOOK PLACE, PARTICIPANTS WERE ASKED TO DRAW A PICTURE OF A POLICE OFFICER AT WORK. THE CHILDREN ALSO RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF POLICE OFFICERS. DATA WERE WERE ALSO GATHERED ON HOW CLOSE THE CHILDREN WERE WILLING TO STAND TO AN UNFAMILIAR POLICE OFFICER. BOYS WHO USED THE ACTIVITY BOOK OR WHO USED THE BOOK AND WERE VISITED BY OFFICER FRIENDLY WERE MORE LIKELY THAN CONTROLS TO VIEW OFFICERS AS HELPING CRIME VICTIMS. GIRLS DID NOT CHANGE THEIR PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE POLICE OFFICER'S ROLE DUE TO PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM. WHITE CHILDREN WHO HAD OFFICER VISITS STOOD CLOSER TO AN UNFAMILIAR POLICE OFFICER THAN DID THOSE WHO WERE NOT VISITED. THE FINDINGS INDICATE THAT THE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF AN OFFICER FRIENDLY PROGRAM DEPEND ON THE CHILD'S SEX AND RACE AND ON THE TYPE OF EVALUATION MEASURE USED. THE FINDINGS ALSO SUGGEST THAT SOME WRITERS HAVE BEEN UNDULY OPTIMISTIC OR PESSIMISTIC ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS. SUPPORTING DATA, A LIST OF REFERENCES, AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE NORFOLK OFFICER FRIENDLY PROGRAM ARE INCLUDED. SEE NCJ-57665 FOR A RELATED REPORT. (LKM)