EXPERIENCE WITH THE POLICE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE POLICE

• NCJ Number: 54697
• Journal: Canadian Journal of Sociology Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (AUTUMN 1978) Pages: 441-456
• Author(s): J F KLEIN; J R WEBB; J E DISANTO
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 16 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Calgary Police Service; University of Calgary
• Corporate Author: University of Alberta
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: REVISED VERSION OF A PAPER PRESENTED AT THE MEETINGS OF THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH HELD IN CALGARY, ALBERTA (CANADA), JULY 2-3, 1977

Annotation

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CALGARY POLICE SERVICE IN ALBERTA, CANADA, WERE STUDIES IN TERMS OF CONSENSUS AND CONFLICT PERSPECTIVES.

Abstract

WITHIN THE FIELD OF CRIMINOLOGY, THE FUNCTIONAL OR ORDER MODEL OF SOCIETY IS REFLECTED IN THE VIEWS OF CONSENSUS THEORISTS WHO CONTEND THAT CRIMINAL LAW IS THE CODIFICATION OF VALUES HELD BY PEOPLE AND HAS LEGITIMACY BECAUSE OF A HIGH LEVEL OF AGREEMENT REGARDING THE CRIMINALITY OF CERTAIN ACTS. THE CONFLICT MODEL CONCEIVES SOCIETY AS AN ONGOING STRUGGLE BETWEEN GROUPS WITH OPPOSING GOALS AND WORLD VIEWS. OF CENTRAL IMPORTANCE IN CRITICAL CRIMINOLOGY ARE CONCEPTS OF POWERLESSNESS IN A STRUCTURAL SENSE AND ALIENATION IN A PSYCHOLOGICAL SENSE. THE USEFULNESS OF CRITICAL CRIMINOLOGY ASSUMPTIONS IN EXPLAINING ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE IN CALGARY WAS EXPLORED WITHIN THE FOLLOWING THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: (1) DOCUMENTING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ALIENATION, SOCIAL GROUP MEMBERSHIP, AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE POLICE WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF CONFLICT ASSUMPTIONS; AND (2) DEMONSTRATING A STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE AND CONTACT WITH THE POLICE, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO THE EVALUATION OF POLICE CONDUCT AND INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS, WOULD BE CONGRUENT WITH THE CONSENSUS MODEL. SIX OF 28 ZONES IN THE CITY WERE CHOSEN FOR STUDY TO REPRESENT DIFFERING LIFESTYLES AND POLICING PROBLEMS. OF 2,995 HOUSEHOLDS WHO RECEIVED A QUESTIONNAIRE IN FEBRUARY 1977, 1,816 USABLE QUESTIONNAIRES WERE RETURNED, FOR A RESPONSE RATE OF 62 PERCENT. WHILE YOUNG PEOPLE HAD SLIGHTLY MORE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE AND REPORTED SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE WITH POLICE MISCONDUCT, OTHER INDICATORS TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE WERE ASSOCIATED WITH MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDES. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INCOME LEVEL, EDUCATION, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, WHILE MODEST, DID NOT SUPPORT CONFLICT THEORY. AGE WAS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO PERCEPTIONS OF POWERLESSNESS, BUT INCOME, EDUCATION, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS WERE. SEX WAS RELATED TO MOST VARIABLES BUT NOT TO POWERLESSNESS. CONSISTENTLY STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WERE OBSERVED BETWEEN NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE AND WITNESSING OR EXPERIENCING WHAT WAS PERCEIVED TO CONSTITUTE POLICE MISCONDUCT. THE RESEARCH FINDINGS LEND SUPPORT TO THE ASSERTION THAT MOST PEOPLE FORM THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE ON THE BASIS OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OR ANECDOTAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS WITH THE POLICE. THE QUESTIONNAIRE IS APPENDED. SUPPORTING DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)