NCJ Number
171257
Journal
Policing Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (1997) Pages: 311-325
Date Published
1997
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study explored unique characteristics of police agencies at different levels by looking at the effects of individual and contextual variables on citizen evaluations of police performance across State, county, and city levels.
Abstract
Because individual and contextual aspects of police-citizen interactions are important influences on public attitudes toward the police, the study focused on effects of different factors associated with citizen evaluations of police performance. The study sample consisted of State citizens, county residents, and a group of adults residing within the borders of a medium-sized city. Citizens were surveyed over a 4-month period; response rates were 56 percent for State citizens, 52 percent for county residents, and 53 percent for city residents. Findings demonstrated a positive relationship between age and attitudes toward the police. Gender and ethnicity were not important factors in citizen evaluation of police performance. As the level of policing became more removed from the citizen's immediate surroundings, the probability of low evaluation resulting from less favorable initiated contact decreased. Although many previous studies found involuntary contact decreased the likelihood of positive citizen perceptions of the police, individuals in the current study who received a citation and were treated less favorably were not significantly more likely to evaluate police performance negatively. Contextual variables appeared to be important predictors of police performance, but different contextual variables had differing effects across State, county, and city levels. Possible explanations for the findings are offered. 52 references, 16 notes, and 3 tables