RT Article
T1 Randomized controlled trial of social interaction police training
JF Criminology & public policy
VO 19
IS 3
SP 805
OP 832
A1 McLean, Kyle
A2 Alpert, Geoffrey P. 1948-
A2 Rojek, Jeff
A2 Smith, Michael R.
A2 Wolfe, Scott E.
LA English
YR 2020
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1727448588
AB Research We conducted a randomized-controlled trial (RCT) of a social interaction training program to determine its effectiveness in improving attitudes and behaviors among police officers. Survey data and a series of difference-in-difference tests found that participating in the training program improved attitudes with treatment group officers placing higher priorities on procedurally fair communication during a hypothetical officer-citizen encounter. An interrupted time-series analysis of official use-of-force reports provided no evidence that the training program altered officer behavior. Policy Implications Policing scholars and reformers have increasingly called for improvements to police training that emphasize communication and de-escalation skills. Although many programs addressing these issues exist, evidence of their effectiveness has been scarce. Our findings provide evidence that such training may improve police officer attitudes but perhaps not behaviors.
K1 De-escalation
K1 Evidence-based policing
K1 Police Training
K1 Procedural Justice
K1 Randomized controlled trials
K1 Social Interaction
DO 10.1111/1745-9133.12506