NCJ Number
228145
Journal
Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2009 Pages: 290-309
Date Published
September 2009
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study examined Texas police chiefs' perceptions of homeland security as a strategy for policing, and the factors that influenced such perceptions.
Abstract
One of the primary findings of this research study indicates that, while many chiefs believed homeland security to be the dominant strategy of the police institution, few believe that their respective departments have undergone such a transformation. The strongest predictor found of a chief perceiving homeland security as his/her department's dominant strategy was his/her perceptions concerning whether the entire institution had adopted homeland security, and vice versa. In addition, the findings indicate that perceptions of Federal collaboration and preparedness were significant predictors of a chief's departmental homeland security perceptions. In regards to department size, chiefs of very small departments were more likely to report homeland security as their dominant strategy in relation to chiefs of larger departments. Many claims have been made about the impact of September 11 on policing, specifically concerning how the resulting homeland security roles and responsibilities have thrust the institution into a new era demanding a change in strategy. In examining the validity of these claims, a sample of 208 Texas police chiefs was surveyed concerning their perceptions of homeland security as a strategy for local law enforcement. In addition, factors that influenced those perceptions were examined. Tables, appendix, notes, and references