SELF-IMAGE, OCCUPATIONAL IMAGE, ROLE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG RECRUITS AND EXPERIENCED POLICE (FROM POLICE IN SOCIETY, 1975 BY EMILIO C VIANO AND JEFFREY H REIMAN - SEE NCJ-29466)

• NCJ Number: 29469
• Author(s): E VIANO; J SUSMAN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 37 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DISCRETION MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE A NECESSARY AND PROPER FUNCTION OF POLICE WORK SO THAT OFFICERS MAY BE EFFECTIVELY TRAINED AND SUPERVISED IN ITS EXERCISE.

Abstract

A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED OF RECRUITS AND EXPERIENCED OFFICERS IN AN UNNAMED METROPOLITAN POLICE FORCE. RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE ROLE OF DISCRETION AND AUTONOMY IN THEIR OWN VALUES AND IN THEIR JOBS. IT WAS EXPECTED THAT EXPERIENCED OFFICERS WOULD HAVE BETTER RECONCILED THE ROLE OF DISCRETION WITH THE AUTHORITARIAN NATURE OF POLICE WORK. THIS WAS NOT FOUND TO BE TRUE. BOTH GROUPS MANIFEST A DESIRE FOR AUTONOMY WHICH THEY DO NOT FIND PRESENT IN POLICE WORK. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THIS CONFLICT RESULTS IN ROLE STRAIN AND CONFUSION.