James Q. Wilson, associate professor of Government, has been appointed by Attorney General Elliott L. Richardson to a subcommittee to improve law enforcement in Massachusetts.

Wilson, former director of the Harvard-M.I.T. Joint Center for Urban Studies, will serve on the 14-man board.

It will assist the Government Public Safety Committee in a study of the President's Commission on Law Enforcement, assessing the commission's recommendations as they apply to Massachusetts.

Attorney General Richardson established the subcommittee, composed of educators, local government officials, and police, to upgrade the state's criminal justice system.

Analyze Difficulties

The members of the board, all familiar with police problems, will analyze the difficulties and are expected to develop a realistic plan for their solution.

"We want this to be a model for the nation," Richardson said.

The subcommittee will present a report to the Government Public Safety Committee this fall, outlining a list of priorities for improvements of law enforcement.