DESCRIPTIVE PROFILE OF THE ASSAULT INCIDENT

• NCJ Number: 27867
• Author(s): S G CHAPMAN; C G SWANSON; C K MEYER
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 166 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-TA-06-0004; 73-DF-06-0053
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; University of Oklahoma; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: University of Oklahoma
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY EXPLORED THE SET OF CHARACTERISTICS MOST TYPICAL OF ASSAULT EVENTS FOR MUNICIPAL POLICE AGENCIES, FOR AGENCIES SERVING POPULATIONS OVER AND UNDER 100,000 RESIDENTS, AND FOR STATE POLICE AND HIGHWAY PATROLS.

Abstract

THIS STUDY WAS PART OF A LARGER RESEARCH PROJECT ON POLICE ASSAULTS CONDUCTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA. IN ANALYZING ASSAULT INCIDENTS IN MUNICIPAL AGENCIES DATA WERE GATHERED ON 1143 ASSAULT INCIDENTS IN SOUTH CENTRAL MUNICIPALITIES. THE CHARACTERISTICS ANALYZED INCLUDE THE OFFICER'S AND ASSAILANT'S PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS, THE TIME AND PLACE OF THE ASSAULT, THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE FOR POLICE INTERVENTION, AND THE ACTUAL EVENT THAT PRECIPITATED THE ASSAULT. THE FINDINGS INDICATE THAT A CERTAIN SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES ARE MORE LIKELY TO RESULT IN AN ATTACK ON A POLICE OFFICER. FOR EXAMPLE, NON-WHITE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED AND HAVE BEEN DRINKING ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN THE ASSAILANT POPULATION. THE NEGATIVE FINDINGS ARE IMPORTANT AS WELL. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DATA DO NOT INDICATE THAT OFFICERS ARE SAFER WHEN PATROLLING IN PAIRS, OR THAT AN OFFICER'S IMPOSING BUILD HELPS PREVENT AN ASSAULT. IN THE SECOND PORTION OF THIS STUDY, THE SAME VARIABLES USED IN 'DESCRIPTIVE PROFILE OF THE ASSAULT INCIDENT: MUNICIPAL AGENCIES' ARE ANALYZED, BUT A FURTHER DIFFERENTIATION IS MADE BETWEEN CITIES OVER AND UNDER 100,000 IN POPULATION. THUS, THE GENERAL EFFECT OF CITY SIZE IN REFERENCE TO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ASSAULTS ON POLICE IS CONSIDERED. THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES FOUND BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS OF CITIES ARE THE EXACT TIME OF THE ASSAULT WITHIN THE ARREST EVENT, AND THE NUMBER OF ASSAULTS OCCURRING AFTER THE ARREST DURING SUSPECT TRANSPORTATION AND JAILING. IN THE THIRD PROFILE OF ASSAULTS THE SAME VARIABLES ARE ANALYZED ONCE AGAIN, BUT SOUTH CENTRAL STATE POLICE AND HIGHWAY PATROLS, IN ADDITION TO MUNICIPAL AGENCIES, PROVIDE THE DATA. ACCORDINGLY, THE DIFFERENCES IN ASSAULT CHARACTERISTICS BETWEEN STATE AND MUNICIPAL POLICE AGENCIES ARE EXPLORED. THE FINDINGS INDICATE NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES EXISTING BETWEEN THE AGENCIES WHEN THEIR RESPECTIVE ROLES ARE CONSIDERED. FOR OTHER REPORTS OF THE POLICE ASSAULTS STUDY, SEE NCJ-27926, 27927, 27929, 27930, 27932, 27862, 27863, AND 27864. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)