INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY TO THE STUDY OF POLICE ASSAULTS IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL UNITED STATES

• NCJ Number: 27863
• Author(s): S G CHAPMAN; C K MEYER; C G SWANSON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 33 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-TA-06-0004; 73-DF-06-0053
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: University of Oklahoma
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; University of Oklahoma
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT PROVIDES A DESCRIPTION OF THE OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY OF THE POLICE ASSAULTS STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, WHICH EXAMINED A NUMBER OF VARIABLES THOUGHT TO BE RELATED TO ASSAULTS ON POLICE.

Abstract

IN 1972, THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA WAS AWARDED A GRANT TO STUDY THE PROBLEM OF ASSAULTS DIRECTED AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL UNITED STATES. UPON COMPLETION OF THE 20 MONTH STUDY, SEVERAL DOCUMENTS WERE PREPARED WHICH TREAT THE ASPECT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES RANGING FROM A THEORETICAL DISCUSSION OF VIOLENCE TO AN ANALYSIS OF THE ASSAULT INCIDENT TO A TREATMENT OF THE OFFENDERS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE ASSAULT EPISODE. THIS REPORT PROVIDES A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON POLICE ASSAULTS; A DESCRIPTION OF THE SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH; A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH METHODS, DESIGNS, AND INSTRUMENTS UTILIZED IN THE STUDY OF ASSAULTS AGAINST OFFICERS; AND A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES AND STATISTICAL PROCEDURES EMPLOYED IN THE ANALYSIS OF PROJECT DATA. THE SIX PRINCIPAL RESEARCH DESIGNS EMPLOYED DURING THE COURSE OF THE STUDY INCLUDED: (1) THE CONSTRUCTION OF A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS; (2) THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROFILE OF THE ASSAULT INCIDENT FOR MUNICIPAL AND STATE POLICE AGENCIES; (3) AN IDENTIFICATION OF THE PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ASSAULTED AND NON-ASSAULTED POLICE OFFICERS; (4) A SOCIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED POLICE ORGANIZATIONS; (5) A DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING OF POLICE OFFICERS; AND (6) AN ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICE ASSAULTS. EACH OF THESE ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. FOR OTHER DOCUMENTS OF THE POLICE ASSAULTS STUDY, SEE NCJ-27926, 27927, 27929, NCJ-27930, 27932, 27862, 27864, AND 27867. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)