POLICE IMAGE AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S ATTITUDE (FROM INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON POLICE RESEARCH - FINAL REPORT, OCTOBER 1976, BY LODE VAN OUTRIVE AND SAMIR RIZKALLA SEE NCJ-49588)

• NCJ Number: 49597
• Author(s): J P POTVIN; C TISSEYRE
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 15 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Georgetown University; Universite de Montreal, Centre International de Criminologie Comparee
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON POLICE RESEARCH, LOUVAIN, BELGIUM, MAY-JUNE 1976 PAPER ISSUED FROM THE REPORT PRESENTED BY C TISSEYRE, AT THE EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CHILD WELFARE - ADVISORY GROUP ON SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, 24-28 MAY, 1976

Annotation

RESULTS FROM A STUDY OF THE POLICE IMAGE HELD BY A SAMPLE OF BELGIAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND A SAMPLE OF CONVICTED DELINQUENTS ARE REPORTED AND DISCUSSED.

Abstract

A QUESTIONNAIRE, TWO ATTITUDE SCALES, AND VARIOUS QUESTIONS OF OPINION WERE USED WITH A SAMPLE OF BELGIAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. ACKNOWLEDGING THE LIMITATION OF THE SAMPLE, CONCLUSIONS FROM THE STUDY ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE ONLY AN INDICATIONAL VALUE. AMONG THE SAMPLE, CONSISTING MAINLY OF STUDENTS BELONGING TO THE MIDDLE-CLASS, THE EXISTENCE AND GENERAL FUNCTION OF THE POLICE AS PROTECTORS OF INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY AGAINST CRIME IS ACCEPTED AND ADVOCATED. THE COERCIVE AND REPRESSIVE ASPECTS OF POLICE OPERATIONS ARE THE PREDOMINANT CHARACTERISTICS OF POLICE WORK IN THE MINDS OF THE RESPONDENTS. POLICE SURVEILLANCE, HOWEVER, IS CONSIDERED INCOMPETENT, WITH POLICE VIEWED AS ARRIVING TOO LATE WHEN NEEDED AND DISPLAYING A GENERAL INATTENTION TO COMPLAINTS MADE BY THE VICTIMS OF MINOR OFFENSES. POLICE, IN GENERAL, ARE CONSIDERED OF LOW INTELLIGENCE AND LACKING IN PROFESSIONAL CONSCIENCE. IN ADDITION TO THE SAMPLE OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, A SAMPLE OF 60 DELINQUENTS, APPROXIMATELY 16 YEARS OLD, WHO HAD COMMITTED ONE OR MORE SERIOUS OFFENSES, WAS INTERVIEWED. WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THE NECESSITY OF POLICE TO PROTECT SOCIETY FROM CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, THE DELINQUENT SAMPLE HAD THE FOLLOWING CHIEF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE AND THEIR PROCEDURES: THE WAITING PERIOD BEFORE QUESTIONING; CUSTODY, DURING WHICH THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR FAMILY; THREATS TO MANIPULATE CONFESSIONS; MANIPULATIVE TECHNIQUES USED IN QUESTIONING; AND POLICE BRUTALITY. (RCB)