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Institutional Attitudes Towards Policing in Contemporary South Africa (From Policing in Central and Eastern Europe: Comparing Firsthand Knowledge With Experience From the West, P 487-509, 1996, Milan Pagon, ed. -- See NCJ-170291)

NCJ Number
170334
Author(s)
J H Prinsloo
Date Published
1996
Length
23 pages
Annotation
A sample population of South African Police was surveyed to determine their expectations of the police power structure toward individual police officers, the perceptions of individual officers regarding the police institution, and respondents' expectations and attitudes toward the community.
Abstract

The ultimate objective of the research was to furnish the South African Police with information that can contribute to effective and acceptable policing within the diverse South African context. Findings show that the research group still favors a juridical foundation as justification for a "neutral" and "objective" police service, although the "legal model" has defeated its own objectives worldwide. The research group shows an unacceptable "frigid" disposition regarding the impact of public attitudes on police policy. They tend to resent the public's negative attitude toward police and feel unappreciated for the work they do. The research group tends to mistrust departmental disciplinary trials, and as much as 49 percent of the research group reported having considered leaving the police profession because of a frustrating internal occupational milieu. This paper also discusses findings pertinent to personnel turnover, discriminatory policing, and a labor union for police. 19 tables