NCJ Number
55964
Date Published
1977
Length
111 pages
Annotation
RECENT INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH ON THE ATTITUDES OF THE POPULATION AND THE POLICE TOWARDS EACH OTHER IS SURVEYED AND EVALUATED TO PROVIDE A KNOWLEDGE-BASE FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ON CANADIAN PEOPLE'S FEAR OF CRIME.
Abstract
THE SURVEY COVERING BRITISH, AUSTRALIAN, FRENCH, ISRAELI, GREEK, AND PAKISTANI RESEARCH FOCUSES ON THREE ASPECTS OF POLICE RELATIONS: (1) THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE OF, OPINIONS ABOUT, ATTITUDES TOWARD, AND SATISFACTION WITH THE POLICE; (2) THE POLICE ORGANIZATIONS' VIEWS ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR TOWARDS THE PUBLIC, AND (3) THE INTERACTION OF POLICE AND CITIZENS. ALTHOUGH A GENERALIZATION OF THE VARIED RESULTS IS DIFFICULT, IT CAN BE SAID THAT THE POLICE ENJOY CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC SUPPORT. AGE, EDUCATION, RACE, AND TO A LESSER DEGREE, SEX, INCOME, AND PLACE OF RESIDENCE ARE THE MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED FACTORS OF INFLUENCE. CERTAIN GROUPS (E.G., THE YOUNG AND THE BLACKS IN THE UNITED STATES) HAVE A MORE NEGATIVE ATTITUDE THAN THE REST OF THE POPULATION. SURPRISINGLY, MANY CITIZENS WHO ARE HOSTILE TO THE POLICE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY DIRECT CONTACT WITH THEM. THE FAR LESS NUMEROUS STUDIES OF POLICE OFFICERS' ATTITUDES REVEAL THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY ARE SATISFIED WITH THEIR PARTICULAR DISTRICT. THE TWO FACTORS MENTIONED MOST FREQUENTLY FOR LIKING A PARTICULAR AREA WERE AN AFFECTION FOR THE POPULATION AND THE LIVELINESS OF A DISTRICT. STUDIES OF DIRECT CONTACTS BETWEEN POLICE AND POPULATION INDICATE THAT THE POLICE USUALLY ADOPT A NEUTRAL, BUSINESSLIKE ATTITUDE BUT INSIST ON BEING TREATED RESPECTFULLY. VICTIMS USUALLY RECEIVE PREFERRED TREATMENT WHILE OFFENDERS--ALTHOUGH RARELY PHYSICALLY ABUSED--ARE SELDOM INFORMED OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. MANY OF THE GENERAL RESEARCH SURVEYS MIGHT SHED NEW LIGHT ON INDIVIDUAL ASPECTS OF THE RELATIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND POLICE. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS NUMEROUS REFERENCES AND STATISTICAL CHARTS. --IN FRENCH. (SAJ)