NCJ Number
99020
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1985) Pages: 195-200
Date Published
1985
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This 1985 study assessed the role perceptions of a selected police recruit class upon entering and completing the training academy of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Abstract
The study proposed the following hypotheses: (1) after training, recruits will be less crime-attack oriented and (2) after training, recruits will be less oriented toward strict enforcement roles. There were 72 recruits present for the first week of training, with 62 completing the academy. During the first training week, recruits were administered a questionnaire containing crime attack and strict enforcement questions. At the end of the training, recruits were again tested to determine if any change occurred in their role perceptions. A five-point weighted Likert scale was used for responses. Findings indicated that recruits tended to be less crime-attack oriented upon leaving the academy, supporting the first hypothesis. Recruits leaving the academy also favored less arrest and apprehension role behaviors, confirming the second hypothesis. The academy's curriculum format is described. Tabular data and 14 references are provided.