NCJ Number
6288
Date Published
1968
Length
62 pages
Annotation
INVESTIGATION INTO THE FACTORS BEHIND THE 1966 DEFEAT OF THE NEW YORK CITY REFERENDUM ON A CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD.
Abstract
THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD WAS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A CHECK ON PURPORTED POLICE BRUTALITY AGAINST MINORITY GROUPS. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS THE LIBERAL ELECTORATE OF NEW YORK REJECTED A CIVIL RIGHTS POSITION. THE AUTHORS STUDIED THE WAYS IN WHICH THE PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES OF A SAMPLE OF BROOKLYN VOTERS INFLUENCED THEIR FEELINGS TOWARD CIVILIAN REVIEW. RELIGIOUS IDENTIFICATION WAS THE GROUP FACTOR THAT MOST CLEARLY DISTINGUISHED SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS. IRISH AND ITALIAN CATHOLICS WHO CLOSELY IDENTIFY WITH THE POLICE AND HAVE A LARGER REPRESENTATION IN THE WORKING AND LOWER MIDDLE-CLASS, OPPOSED THE BOARD BY A TREMENDOUS MAJORITY. JEWS, WITH FEWER POLICE CONNECTIONS AND GENERALLY HIGHER ECONOMIC LEVELS, WERE DIVIDED ACCORDING TO THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THE NEGRO AND HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OF CRIME IN THE STREETS WERE THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT SYMBOLIC FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BOARD IN THE VOTERS' MINDS. THE REFERENDUM AND A SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE ARE INCLUDED. (MODIFIED AUTHOR ABSTRACT).