NCJ Number
61080
Journal
Policy Studies Journal Volume: 7 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (1978) Pages: 461-468
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR INFORMING POLICE ABOUT LEGAL RULINGS ON CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND THE EFFECTS OF SUCH TRAINING ARE EXAMINED, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO SMALL-TOWN OFFICERS IN ILLINOIS AND MASSACHUSETTS.
Abstract
THE TRANSFERENCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT COURT RULINGS BEARING UPON POLICE PROCEDURE TO LOCAL POLICE TO EFFECT BEHAVIOR CHANGE NOT DONE UNIFORMLY. DEPSITE RECENT INCREASES IN THE AMOUNT OF PRERECRUIT, RECRUIT, AND INSERVICE TRAINING, DEFICIENCIES IN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE TRAINING ARE STILL EVIDENT. A STUDY OF SMALL-TOWN POLICE OFFICERS TRAINING PROGRAMS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS IN THE EARLY 1970'S SHOWED THAT LITTLE TRAINING IN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE RULINGS, EITHER FOR RECRUITS OR OFFICERS WAS GIVEN. A SLIGHTLY HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF ILLINOIS OFFICERS HAD BEEN GIVEN INSTRUCTION ABOUT THE EXCLUSIONARY RULE AND WHAT CONSTITUTED ILLEGAL SEARCHES AND SEIZURES THAN MASSACHUSETTS OFFICERS. WHEN CRIMINAL PROCEDURES RULINGS WERE COVERED IN TRAINING, THE MATERIAL WAS PRESENTED IN A PERFUNCTORY OR NEGATIVE MANNER AND FAILED TO CLARIFY THE COURTS' REASONING OR TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE RULING. ALTHOUGH MANY OFFICERS WERE MOTIVATED TO CONFORM TO CORRECT PROCEDURE AS DEFINED BY THE COURTS, THESE WERE NOT OF SUFFICIENT NUMBER TO PRECLUDE THE NECESSITY FOR AGGRESSIVE OUTREACH TO BRING A POSITIVE KNOWLEDGE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE TO LOCAL OFFICERS, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL COMMUNITITES. CIRCUIT-RIDING TRAINING OFFICERS KNOWLEDGABLE IN AND COMMITTED TO CORRECT POLICE CRIMINAL PROCEDURES ARE SUGGESTED AS A BEGINNING. (RCB)