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TEACHING CRIME PREVENTION IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS - THE OFFICER FRIENDLY PROGRAM

NCJ Number
57663
Author(s)
N K EBERHARDT; V J DERLEGA; J R K HEINEN
Date Published
Unknown
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE NORFOLK (VA.) POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE FBI, AND THE SEARS-ROEBUCK FOUNDATION INSTITUTED A VISITING PROGRAM BY POLICE OFFICERS TO ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS.
Abstract
FOUR GOALS WERE ESTABLISHED FOR THIS 'OFFICER FRIENDLY' PROGRAM: (1) ALERT YOUNG CHILDREN TO THEIR RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS; (2) PROVIDE THEM WITH A REALISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLICE AND POLICE ROLE; (3) ESTABLISH RAPPORT BETWEEN THE ELEMENTARY STUDENT AND UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER; AND (4) CREATE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE IN CHILDREN TOWARD THEIR OWN WELFARE AND THAT OF OTHERS. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, A VISITING PROGRAM BY POLICE OFFICERS TO ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS WAS ARRANGED. THE OFFICERS HAD THREE VISITS (45 MINUTES IN LENGTH) WITH THE KINDERGARTEN, FIRST AND SECOND GRADES OF SELECTED NORFOLK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. IN THE FIRST VISIT, THE OFFICER INTRODUCED HIMSELF AND SHOWED SLIDES OF HIS DUTIES WHILE IN UNIFORM AS WELL AS HIS OFF-DUTY ACTIVITIES. THE SECOND VISIT STRESSED DIFFERENT TYPES OF SAFETY--PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE, BUS, HOME AND NEIGHBORHOOD. ON THE THIRD VISIT, THE CONCEPT OF CRIME RESISTANCE WAS INTRODUCED. SLIDES WERE USED TO EXPLAIN IDEAS OF BASIC CRIME PREVENTION. A PRIMARY-LEVEL 'CRIME RESISTANCE ACTIVITY BOOK' WAS USED TO SUPPLEMENT POLICE VISITS. WHEN THE PROGRAM ENDED AT THE FINISH OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, PSYCHOLOGISTS AT OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY IN NORFOLK EVALUATED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM AND WORKBOOK. FINDINGS SHOWED THAT CHILDREN WHO RECEIVED THE OFFICER'S VISITS PLUS THE WORKBOOK, OR CHILDREN WHO JUST USED THE BOOK, DEVELOPED MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE THAN DID CHILDREN WHO HAD NOT BEEN VISITED NOR SEEN THE BOOK. RESULTS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE 'OFFICER FRIENDLY' PROGRAM MADE CHILDREN FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WHEN INTERACTING WITH POLICE OFFICERS. THE RESULTS SUGGEST THAT A FULL SCALE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM WOULD BE BENEFICIAL AND THAT AN EDUCATIONAL SETTING CAN TEACH CHILDREN POSITIVE ATTITUDES NOT ONLY ABOUT THE POLICE, BUT THEIR ROLE AS A CITIZEN IN A COMMUNITY. SEE NCJ-57665 FOR A RELATED ARTICLE. (MJW)