KIDS, COPS AND CONFLICT (FROM DELINQUENCY IN AUSTRALIA A CRITICAL APPRAISAL, 1977, BY P R WILSON - SEE NCJ-59612)

• NCJ Number: 59618
• Author(s): G SMITH
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Queensland Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: VERSION OF PAPER PUBLISHED IN THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY, V 2, N 1 (FEBRUARY 1975), P 21-27

Annotation

RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A PARTICIPANT-OBSERVATION STUDY OF AUSTRALIAN ADOLESCENT DELINQUENTS REGARDING ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY ARE OUTLINED.

Abstract

A PREDOMINATELY MALE ADOLESCENT, DELINQUENT GANG AT A BRISBANE HOUSING COMMISSION ESTATE WAS OBSERVED FOR 4 MONTHS DURING THE LATTER HALF OF 1973. OF 150 GROUP MEMBERS, ABOUT 30 ARE CORE MEMBERS. TAPE-RECORDED CONVERSATIONS REVEAL THE ATTITUDES OF GROUP MEMBERS TOWARD POLICE. THE GANG IS LOOSELY DEFINED AS DELINQUENT BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY OF MEMBERS' CONTACT WITH THE POLICE; NEARLY ALL CORE MEMBERS HAVE POLICE RECORDS. WHEREAS POSITIVE OR TOLERANT ATTITUDES ARE HELD TOWARD =ARTICULAR CONSTABLES, THE OVERALL ATTITUDE OF GROUP MEMBERS TOWARD POLICE CONSISTS OF SUSPICION, DISRESPECT, DISTRUST, DISLIKE, AND OCCASIONALLY FEAR. MEMBERS THAT POLICE ARE VIOLENT TOWARD THEM, HYPOCRITICAL IN THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD DRINKING AND THE LAW, DECEITFUL IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH ARRESTED OFFENDERS, AND REMOTE FROM THE DAILY LIVES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE GROUP. WHILE THERE IS SOME EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE THAT POLICE BEHAVIOR IS ACTUALLY AS PERCEIVED, SUCH ATTITUDES POSE CONSIDERABLE IMPLICATIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY. BASED ON U.S. INITIATIVES IN THE AREAS, THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OUTLINED: (1) POLICE SHOULD FORMULATE STANDARD POLICY GUIDELINES FOR DEALING WITH JUVENILES; (2) ALL OFFICERS SHOULD BE ACQUAINTED WITH THE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUTH WITH WHOM THEY WILL MOST LIKELY COME IN CONTACT; (3) CUSTODY (BOTH PROLONGED STREET STOPS AND STATIONHOUSE VISITS) SHOULD BE LIMITED TO INSTANCES WHERE THERE IS OBJECTIVE GROUND FOR SUSPICION; AND (4) CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS OF ALL STOPS SHOULD BE REQUIRED. POLICE SHOULD ALSO PARTICIPATE IN AND ENCOURAGE THE FORMATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS TO INCREASE CONTACT WITH RESIDENTS ON A BROADER BASIS. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REVIEW BOARD TO HEAR GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE POLICE IS ALSO SUGGESTED FOR EACH COMMUNITY. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)