KIDS AND COPS - A STUDY IN MUTUAL HOSTILITY

• NCJ Number: 10148
• Author(s): D H BOUMA
• Date Published: 1969
• Length: 167 pages
• Sale Source: William B Eerdmans
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STUDY OF POLICE-YOUTH RELATIONS CONDUCTED AMONG JUNIOR HIGH AGE YOUTH AND POLICE IN THREE MICHIGAN CITIES GRAND RAPIDS, KALAMAZOO, AND MUSKEGON HEIGHTS.

Abstract

THE AFTERMATH OF THE NATIONWIDE URBAN RIOTS OF THE SUMMER OF 1967 PROVIDED AN INTERESTING TIME FRAME FOR THE CONDUCT OF THIS STUDY. THE SURVEY INCLUDED YOUTH FROM BOTH PUBLIC AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS, AND COMPARATIVE STATISTICS WERE COMPILED. QUESTIONING FOCUSED, HOWEVER, ON INNER CITY YOUTH AND THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF POLICE FAIRNESS AND PREJUDICE. VARIABLES CONSIDERED IN THE SURVEY RESULTS WERE RACE, SEX, AGE, CHURCH ATTENDANCE, PRIOR POLICE CONTACT, AND FATHER'S OCCUPATIONAL STATUS. FINDINGS SHOWED GENERALLY POSTIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE AND GENERAL WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE WITH POLICE. RACE WAS FOUND TO BE THE CHIEF VARIANT IN ATTITUDES. IN RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RIOTS, THE POLICE TENDED TO LAY BLAME FOR THEM ON OUTSIDE AGITATORS, YET BY MAJORITY, REJECTED A GREATER SHOW OF FORCE TO MAINTAIN INNER CITY CONTROL. THEY SHOWED A GENERAL FEELING THAT INNER CITY RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY NON-WHITES, ARE LESS COOPERATIVE WITH POLICE. THE POLICE PERCEIVED A MORE NEGATIVE YOUTH ATTITUDE TOWARDS LAW ENFORCEMENT THAN AS IT ACTUALLY EXISTED.