NCJ Number
10713
Date Published
1973
Length
215 pages
Annotation
SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF POLICE RECRUITS, THEIR INSTRUCTORS, AND POLICE WORK, BASED ON THE AUTHOR'S PARTICIPATORY OBSERVATION IN A POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY.
Abstract
FROM HIS EXPERIENCE IN A POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY CLASS, A CIVILIAN PARTICIPANT HAS FORMULATED A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF POLICE RECRUITS, THEIR INSTRUCTORS, AND POLICE WORK IN GENERAL. THE ANALYSIS CONCENTRATES ON THE RELATION OF POLICE TRAINING TO POLICE DEFENSIVENESS, PROFESSIONALIZATION, AND DEPERSONALIZATION. IT INDICATES A SIGNIFICANT CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE SOCIOLOGICAL FACETS OF TRAINING AND THE SOLIDARITY AND GROUP PERSONALITY WHICH POLICEMEN DEMONSTRATE IN ALL AREAS OF POLICE WORK. SERIOUS IDEOLOGICAL DISCREPANCIES ARE FOUND BETWEEN ACADEMY TRAINING AND IN-THE-FIELD POLICE WORK WHICH CAUSE CONFUSION FOR POLICE OFFICERS OVER THEIR PROPER SELF-IMAGE, THE EFFICACY AND RELEVANCE OF THEIR FORMAL TRAINING, AND THE GENERAL POLICE ROLE. SOME SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE CONCERNING THE PROCESS AND STRUCTURE OF POLICE TRAINING. LECTURES AND TECHNICAL COURSES SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH DISCUSSION SESSIONS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS THAT TOUCH UPON IMPORTANT CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES. POLICE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD COMMIT THEMSELVES TO PROVIDING MORE TIME, MONEY, AND PERSONNEL TO THEIR TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND DURING HIS PROBATION PERIOD THE RECRUIT SHOULD RECEIVE ADDITIONAL, STRUCTURED PRACTICAL TRAINING FROM HAND-PICKED SUPERVISORY PATROLMEN.