NCJ Number
131757
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 64 Issue: 3 Dated: (July-September 1991) Pages: 248-257
Date Published
1991
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Police agencies' efforts to reduce hostility between black citizens and police officers in Ohio were studied by means of a survey of police attitudes, an analysis of the police training curriculum, and the percentage of black police officers in the police departments in Dayton, Columbus, and Cleveland.
Abstract
The questionnaire was completed by 254 police officers attending continuing education programs at the State police academy between January and May 1990. It gathered information about perceptions about the sources of racism in the criminal justice system, ways of addressing this issue, and the future treatment of blacks in various Ohio criminal justice agencies. Results showed that racism exists throughout the State and may continue in the future. However, police agencies are generally not using the two methods suggested elsewhere: increasing the recruitment of blacks and including education about black cultural factors in police education. Most of the respondents were white police officers, and they suggested team work involving black and white officers, rather than recruitment of more black police officers, as the most effective way of reducing tensions. Their responses also revealed a lack of familiarity with black cultural values. Tables and 15 references