NCJ Number
57164
Date Published
1975
Length
255 pages
Annotation
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRACTICUM WAS TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A 1974 SECURITY TRAINING PROGRAM AT A TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, HIGH SCHOOL. DETAILS ARE PROVIDED ON STEPS USED TO DEVELOP AND EVALUATE THE PROGRAM.
Abstract
THE RESULTS OF THIS PILOT STUDY SHOW THAT THERE ARE REMEDIES TO URBAN SCHOOL CRIME AND VIOLENCE. TRENTON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL HAS A POPULATION OF OVER 3,000 STUDENTS WITH AN ETHNIC COMPOSITION OF 85 PERCENT BLACK, 10 PERCENT HISPANIC, AND 5 PERCENT WHITE. DURING 1973 TO 1974, PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SECURITY PROGRAM, THERE WAS A SERIOUS CRIME PROBLEM AS REVEALED BY THE OCCURRENCE OF 58 NARCOTIC CASES, 100 ASSAULT AND BATTERY CASES, AND NUMEROUS OTHER CRIMINAL ACTS. SINCE THE ADVENT OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM, CRIME STATISTICS HAVE INCREASED BECAUSE THE SECURITY OFFICERS HAVE BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE. THE PRESENCE OF THESE SPECIALLY TRAINED SECURITY OFFICERS HAS REDUCED THE NUMBER OF LARCENIES, ROBBERIES, ASSAULTS AND BATTERIES, AND LOITERING VIOLATIONS. A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM IS PROVIDED IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAM'S STRUCTURE, THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE SECURITY OFFICERS, AND THE PROCEDURES TAUGHT THE OFFICERS. A COMPARISON WAS MADE BETWEEN THE ATTITUDES OF 10 SECURITY OFFICERS, 10 STUDENTS, AND 20 STAFF MEMBERS FROM TRENTON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AND A SIMILAR SAMPLE FROM ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT TO TEST EFFECTS OF THE PROGRAM. IT WAS FOUND THAT IT IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS, STAFF, AND OFFICERS, AND CREATED A PROFESSIONAL SECURITY FORCE. WHILE THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY DRAWING UPON A LARGER SAMPLE, IT IS EVIDENT THAT THIS PROGRAM COULD SERVE AS AN EFFECTIVE SECURITY TRAINING PROGRAM MODEL FOR OTHER URBAN SCHOOLS. ATTACHED APPENDICES PROVIDE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF MATERIALS USED IN THIS PROGRAM AND OF THE QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (KCP)