NCJ Number
34051
Date Published
1975
Length
10 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDENT AND TEACHER EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTERED TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE YOUTH OFFICER PROGRAM IN WHICH A SPECIAL OFFICER WAS MADE AVAILABLE ON SCHOOL GROUNDS TO CONSULT WITH STUDENTS.
Abstract
THE EVALUATION WAS DESIGNED TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON STUDENT AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAM, STUDENT AND STAFF PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM, GENERAL ATTITUDES OF STUDENTS AND STAFF TO THE PROGRAM AND TO THOSE WHO UTILIZED THE PROGRAM, AND PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY THOSE ATTEMPTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO 727 STUDENTS AND 41 STAFF MEMBERS. STUDENT AND STAFF REACTIONS TO THE YOUTH OFFICER PROGRAM WERE FOUND TO BE QUITE FAVORABLE. BOTH GROUPS VIEWED THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE YOUTH OFFICER AS THE PROVISION OF HELP TO STUDENTS. LESS THAN TEN PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS FELT THE YOUTH OFFICER WAS IN THE SCHOOL TO ARREST STUDENTS. OPINIONS CONCERNING THE EFFECT OF THE YOUTH OFFICER ON THE BEHAVIOR OF THE STUDENTS WERE MIXED, WITH NO DEFINITE INDICATION THAT THE YOUTH OFFICER PROGRAM HAD CHANGED THE ATTITUDE OF THE STUDENTS RELATIVE TO POLICE. SIMILARLY, THE EFFECTS OF THE YOUTH OFFICER ON THE BEHAVIOR OF THE STUDENTS WERE UNCLEAR. STUDENTS AND STAFF SEEMED TO FEEL THAT THE SERVICES OF THE YOUTH OFFICER COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO MORE STUDENTS IF ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE MADE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT BY THE YOUTH OFFICER AT THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. THE STAFF QUESTIONNAIRE AND A COPY OF THE YOUTH OFFICER'S REPORT ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)