NCJ Number
31577
Date Published
1973
Length
69 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE TWO PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED TO ASSIST AREA BUSINESS MEN AND CITIZENS IN THE PROMOTION OF SAFETY AND THE REDUCTION OF CRIME AND TO MINIMIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF CRIMINAL ACTS IN RESIDENTS.
Abstract
THE METHODOLOGY USED IN THIS STUDY INVOLVED INTERVIEWS WITH COMMUNITY BUSINESSMEN, AGENCIES, RESIDENTS AND COURTESY PATROL PERSONNEL, NON-PARTICIPANT OBSERVATIONS, AND AN EXAMINATION OF RELEVANT PROGRAM MATERIALS. MEASURED WERE THE DEGREE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, CHANGES IN PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, BEHAVIORAL CHANGE OF PATROLMEN, AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. IN GENERAL, THE PATROLS WERE FOUND TO BE ACCOMPLISHING THEIR OBJECTIVES. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES WERE EXPANDED (TRAINING PROGRAMS, REMEDIATION IN READING AND MATHMATICS, COMMUNITY SERVICES, INSTRUCTION IN COMMUNICATION SKILLS) TO ATTRACT MORE TARGET AREA YOUTH AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR BOTH THE YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, YOUTH PATROL MEMBERS INDICATED SPECIFIC POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL CHANGES ON THE PART OF THE YOUTH PARTICIPANTS, ALTHOUGH COMMUNITY RESPONDENTS NOTICED NO CHANGE IN THE BEHAVIOR OF ADULT COURTESY PATROL MEMBERS. A MAJORITY OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS FELT THAT THE PATROLS HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT AND CONTRIBUTED TO A REDUCTION OF CRIME. PROGRAM CONTINUATION IS RECOMMENDED ALONG WITH INCREASED PAY, LONGER WORKING HOURS, AND MORE ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS THE TRANSCRIPT OF AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL ON THE COURTESY PATROL AND A DISCUSSION OF THE EVALUATION DESIGN FOR THE TWO PROGRAMS.