NCJ Number
77024
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 29 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1981) Pages: 40-42,44
Date Published
1981
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Police supervisors and administrators were surveyed on their knowledge of research projects dealing with patrol work since this knowledge is crucial for project adoption and implementation.
Abstract
The projects selected were those whose results had been published in either a final project report or a professional journal with national distribution. During February through September 1980, questionnaires were distributed to members of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police who were attending seminars and to first line supervisors and middle managers attending the University of Illinois Police Training Institute's training course for first line supervisors and middle managers attending the University of Illinois Police Training Institute's training course for first line supervisors. Usable questionnaires were received from 163 (of 250) persons: 41 percent were top level administrators; 19 percent were within the command category; 34 percent were first line supervisors; and 6 percent were operational level employees. A total of 103 seaparate agencies were represented; 89 percent were municipal departments; 4 percent, county departments; and 7 percent, college or university departments. Results showed that 5.1 percent were 'very' familiar with the projects, 17.4 percent were 'somewhat' familiar, and 77.5 percent 'not at all' familiar. Improvements in law enforcement are unlikely to occur when only 5 percent of a sample of law enforcement decisionmakers are familiar enough with job-related research to even consider change implementation. Some data and the names of some of the projects selected are presented. A reference list is not included.