Chicano and the Law: An Analysis of Community-Police Conflict in an Urban Barrio (From Criminal Justice and Latino Communities, P 87-108, 1995, Antoinette S. Lopez, ed. - See NCJ-168536)

• NCJ Number: 168541
• Author(s): A Mirande
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 22 pages
• Sale Source: Garland Publishing, Inc.
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

A case study of a Southern California barrio with a history of conflict between the police and the Hispano American community was used to test several hypotheses concerning fear of crime and fear of the police in relation to support for increasing or curtailing police powers and protecting civil liberties.

Abstract

Data were collected by means of an interview survey. Results revealed considerable diversity in attitudes toward the police, crime, and civil liberties. Results strongly supported the hypothesis that fear of crime leads to increased support for police power. However, the results provided only limited for support for the hypothesis that Hispano Americans who fear the police are most likely to favor the protection of civil liberties. Finally, findings strongly supported the hypothesis that fear of the police among barrio residents is associated with the desire to curtail police power. Findings suggest that even among a group of people who have experienced systematic police abuse and harassment, crime rate increases generally lead to greater support for increasing police power and limiting civil liberties, while fear of the police reduces support for police power and increases support for civil guarantees. Tables, notes, and 33 references (Author abstract modified)