NCJ Number
51874
Date Published
1973
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS TEACHER'S MANUAL FOR SCHOOL PROGRAMS ON POLICE AND POLICING AIMS AT HELPING STUDENTS TO ASSESS THEIR FEELINGS TOWARD POLICE AND AUTHORITY AND INSTRUCTING THEM IN THE DIFFICULTIES OF POLICE WORK.
Abstract
RESEARCH LITERATURE ON POLICE AND JUVENILES INDICATES THAT YOUTH ARE NOT NECESSARILY HOSTILE TOWARDS POLICE, BUT THAT THEY HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO BE FREE TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR NOT IMPOSED BY SOCIETY. IF POLICE RESPOND NEGATIVELY TOWARD YOUNG PEOPLE AS A GROUP FOR THEIR REFUSAL TO ACCEPT SOCIAL NORMS, POSITIVE JUVENILE ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE CHANGE. STUDIES ALSO SHOW THAT POLICE PERCEIVE THAT JUVENILE ATTITUDES TOWARD THEM ARE MORE NEGATIVE THAN SURVEYS INDICATE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT JUVENILES AND TEACHERS UNDERSTAND THE RANGE OF EXPECTATIONS THAT SOCIETY HAS FOR POLICE AND THE PROBLEMS POLICE FACE IN ACCOMPLISHING THEIR JOBS. THIS MANUAL OUTLINES A NINE-PART PROGRAM ENTITLED 'POLICE PATROL.' IT ENCOMPASSES A SERIES OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ROLE PLAYING, ATTITUDE SURVEYS, FIELD WORK ASSIGNMENTS, DISCUSSIONS, AND TESTING. TOPICS FOR ROLE PLAYING SIMULATE POSSIBLE POLICE INCIDENTS. SELECTED STUDENTS SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE PART OF THE POLICE OFFICERS WHILE OTHERS SHOULD BE CHOSEN AS CITIZENS. THE ATTITUDES SURVEY CONSISTS OF QUESTIONS TO ASSESS FEELINGS TOWARD POLICE AND TEACHER AUTHORITY, LEGAL RIGHTS OF OFFICERS, AND POLICE EFFECTIVENESS. THE FIELD WORK ASSIGNMENTS PRESCRIBE TASKS SUCH AS FINDING OUT HOW MANY OFFICERS ARE EMPLOYED IN THE COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT, WHAT SPECIAL POLICE UNITS EXIST, AND WHAT POLICY THE DEPARTMENT HAS REGARDING FIREARMS USE. SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES, POLICE CALL CARDS FOR ROLE PLAYING, AND WALL POSTERS ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)