PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY (MD) - EVALUATION OF THE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT - POLICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REPORT

• NCJ Number: 39329
• Author(s): E DAVIS
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 10 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-015-72
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Public Admin Service
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PROGRAM WAS EVALUATED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, WHOSE 700-MAN POLICE DEPARTMENT SERVES APPROXIMATELY 700,000 PERSONS LIVING IN A AREA OF OVER 400SQ MILES.

Abstract

THE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM OF MISTRUST, LACK OF COMMUNICATION, AND NEGATIVE FEELINGS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE MINORITY POPULATIONS OF BLACKS, AND LATINS LIVING IN THE CAPITAL-BELTWAY AREA OF P G COUNTY, NEAR WASHINGTON, D.C. THIS REPORT, WHICH WAS ISSUED IN AUGUST, 1973, SUGGESTS THAT A REDUCTION OF THE PROBLEM AREAS COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A COORDINATED EFFORT BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT BY MEANS OF THE USE OF A MOBILE PROBLEM-SOLVING MACHINE CONSISTING OF A POLICE OFFICER, A CIVILIAN FIELD WORKER, AND THE PROJECT DIRECTOR. THIS GROUP COULD ATTACK PROBLEMS WHERE THEY OCCUR. IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED THAT A REORGANIZATION OF THE UNIT OCCUR AND THAT CITIZENS BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE MORE FREELY IN THE PROGRAM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...KAP