NCJ Number
225253
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 36 Issue: 6 Dated: November/December 2008 Pages: 471-477
Date Published
November 2008
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examined ethnic differences in police satisfaction within the context of a majority-minority city.
Abstract
Results confirmed that Latinos were slightly more satisfied with the police than similarly situated Whites; proxy measures of lower levels of acculturation confirmed the hypothesis that less acculturated Latinos were less satisfied with the police. The level of self-reported incivilities in the respondents’ neighborhood was the strongest predictor of satisfaction throughout the models estimated. The results suggest at least two clear policy implications with regard to public support for the police. First, Latinos do not represent a monolithic demographic category. Police agencies that serve relatively large populations of newly immigrating Latinos who are less acculturated, are likely to be confronted with a somewhat less enthusiastic and supportive population. Second, the effect of neighborhood disorder on attitudes toward police is quite large. Police efforts to reduce incivilities would appear to directly increase public satisfaction with the services provided. Data were derived from 454 citizens who participated in an annual San Antonio Survey conducted at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2005. Tables, references