NCJ Number
143561
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 9 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1992) Pages: 703-719
Date Published
1992
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Residents of a Chinese community and a Vietnamese community in the Los Angeles metropolitan area were surveyed regarding their interactions with police and their attitudes toward police.
Abstract
The questionnaire was based on reports by 52 Chinese and Vietnamese community leaders, including 5 whites, regarding their perceptions of Asian attitudes toward the police. Responses came from 123 Vietnamese refugees and 143 Chinese immigrants. Survey results revealed that fear of crime, poor communication with police, and gang activities are the major concerns of the Vietnamese. Furthermore, the survey revealed that fear of crime and perceived police prejudice against residents are the main concerns of the Chinese. In addition, the Vietnamese consistently rated all the problems as more serious than did the Chinese. Although the participants have little doubt about the integrity of the police in the United States, few appreciate how greatly the American police differ from the police in their homelands. Therefore, the police should reach out to these communities to educate residents about police in the United States. Table and 48 references