NCJ Number
76653
Journal
Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1981) Pages: 14-22
Date Published
1981
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Results are reported from a study that determined images of the public held by a sample of police constables and a sample of lawyers in India.
Abstract
Police-community relations are reported to be poor in India. This can be attributed largely to the images police officers have of the public. Using the semantic differential technique, the study determined the views of 90 police constables in the district executive force with respect to farmers, laborers, legislators, students, and villagers. Police images of these groups were examined for the following traits: (1) stability (tidy-shabby, prompt-slow, firm-shaky, and careful-negligent), (2) fellowship (considerate-blunt, cooperative-uncooperative, courteous-discourteous, and helpful-unhelpful), (3) socialbility (responsible-irresponsible, simple-cunning, sympathetic-vindictive, and trustworthy-unreliable), (4) affability (gentleman-rogue, humble-arrogant, kind-harsh, and large-hearted or mean), and (5) probity (honest-dishonest, truthful-liar, peaceful-quarrelsome, and law-abiding-law-violating). A sample of 45 lawyers also completed the semantic differential technique. Generally, the constables were found to have a more positive image of the public than the lawyers. While both groups hold overall low opinions of the public, lawyers apparently need more attention in nurturing positive community relations than do the police. Tabular study data and 11 references are provided.