NCJ Number
132208
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 18 Issue: 4 Dated: (1990) Pages: 333-349
Date Published
1990
Length
17 pages
Annotation
A 30-item craftsmanship inventory was administered to 205 sworn officers from eight municipal police departments in Illinois to determine the extent to which police exhibit values more characteristic of craftsmanship than professionalism.
Abstract
Based on Wilson's (1968) discussion of styles of municipal policing, the craftsmanship constructs of apprenticeship, a holistic work-ethic, lack of deference to authority, and oral traditions were measured. Factor analytic strategies were used to develop eight composite measures of craftsmanship. The findings fail to support the notion that the police perceive their occupation in terms consistent with craftsmanship. The police were more likely to describe their occupational setting in terms consistent with ideas reflecting professionalism. The conclusions discuss changes in policing in the two decades following Wilson's research that are consistent with concepts of professionalism. 3 notes, 5 tables, 2 appendixes, and 34 references (Author abstract modified)