NCJ Number
198943
Journal
International Review of Victimology Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: 2002 Pages: 93-111
Editor(s)
Susan Herman,
David Weisburd
Date Published
2002
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article discusses an investigation into the extent to which awareness of community policing had penetrated six different ethnic immigrant communities in Queens, New York.
Abstract
This investigation was premised upon the evidence from past research that community policing had not been as successful in Black and Latino communities as in white communities, and the belief that communities with a high proportion of immigrants were even less aware of community policing. Representative samples of the six ethnic groups were surveyed, in which two communities were well established and integrated into the city's political structure, and four communities were primarily composed of recent immigrants without a sense of political empowerment. Questions were asked of these residents concerning community policing, sources of awareness, participation in community policing activities, and suggestions for improving community-police relations. It was found that residents from the more established communities were very likely to have participated in community policing activities. Increasing foot patrols and holding more meetings with the community were found to be the most effective means of improving police-community relations, particularly among Hispanic communities. In conclusion, it is noted that overcoming the distrust of authorities by immigrants who are from countries with repressive regimes is an important reason for the police to try to court immigrant communities by means of community policing. A source list of references is included.