Image and Typology of Japanese Police Officers (From Police and the Community: Contributions Concerning the Relationship Between Police and the Community and Concerning Community Policing, P 172-178, 1990, Thomas Feltes and Erich Rebscher, eds.)

• NCJ Number: 129783
• Author(s): H Nishimura
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: Felix-Verlag
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

Information from a 1984 survey of 612 citizens and 447 police officers in Japan formed the basis of a comparison of police and public attitudes toward criminal justice.

Abstract

The survey found the both police officers and citizens favored the use of police discretion over inflexible prosecution, although the population tended more than the officers to desire a compromise between unswerving prosecution and consideration for an offender's personal circumstances. The police were then asked to describe themselves as they believed the public saw them. Both groups mentioned such adjectives as "thoughtful," "honest," "strong," "educated," and "elegant," although the public's description was more positive than the police believed. Finally, an analysis of responses to hypothetical minor offenses demonstrated that most officers had strong senses of obligation to both the police and the public. Findings showed considerable good will and agreement in public and police attitudes which increase the effectiveness of the Japanese police.