NCJ Number
57665
Date Published
Unknown
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A POLICE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE ATTITUDES OF SCHOOL CHILDREN TOWARD POLICE AND TO TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO AVOID BECOMING VICTIMS OF CRIME IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED.
Abstract
NORFOLK, VA., WAS ONE OF TWO PILOT CITIES TO INCLUDE AN OFFICER FRIENDLY PROJECT AS PART OF ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION CRIME RESISTANCE PROGRAM. THE PROJECT INVOLVED VISITS BY OFFICERS TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOMS, TEACHER-INITIATED ACTIVITIES, AND A CRIME RESISTANCE ACTIVITY BOOK. TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ACTIVITY BOOK AND THE OFFICERS' VISITS, AN EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED IN 21 SECOND-GRADE CLASSES. BEFORE AND AFTER PARTICIPATION IN THE OFFICER FRIENDLY PROGRAM, STUDENTS WERE ASKED TO DRAW PICTURES OF A POLICE OFFICER AT WORK AND TO INDICATE THEIR AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENT WITH STATEMENTS ABOUT POLICE. BOYS (BUT NOT GIRLS) WHO HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO THE PROGRAM (EITHER THE OFFICER FRIENDLY VISITS AND THE ACTIVITY BOOK, OR THE ACTIVITY BOOK ALONE) TENDED TO DRAW POLICE OFFICERS IN LESS VIOLENT ROLES THAN DID CHILDREN WHO HAD NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO THE PROGRAM. IN ANOTHER TEST, MEASUREMENTS WERE MADE OF HOW CLOSE CHILDREN WOULD STAND TO AN UNFAMILIAR OFFICER. CHILDREN (BOYS AND GIRLS) WHO HAD BEEN VISITED BY OFFICER FRIENDLY STOOD CLOSER THAN CHILDREN WHO HAD NOT BEEN VISITED. THE EVALUATION RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE OFFICER FRIENDLY PROJECT POSITIVELY AFFECTED CHILDREN'S ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR TOWARD POLICE. PROJECT RATIONALE, PLANNING, CONTENT, AND EVALUATION METHODS AND FINDINGS ARE DESCRIBED. NO SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED. FOR EVALUATION DETAILS, SEE NCJ 57664. (LKM)