NCJ Number
220070
Journal
International Journal of Police Science & Management Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: Summer 2007 Pages: 145-163
Date Published
2007
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether the attitudes of new male and female officers in the South African Police Service (SAPS) were similar to those of the veteran police culture (solidarity with other officers, isolation from civilians, and cynicism).
Abstract
The study found that most of the new SAPS officers entered the Service moderately supportive of police cultural values of solidarity, isolation, and cynicism. This finding supports Crank and Caldero's (1999) conclusion that police recruits' views are largely in place at the time of hiring. It also confirms the findings of Roberg, Novak, and Cordner (2005), who found that the police occupation attracts people with particular values and attitudes, i.e., characteristics similar to those of veteran officers. The study also found that female newcomers had slightly stronger attitudes supportive of police cultural solidarity and isolation compared with their male counterparts. New male officers started their training with no attitudes supportive of cynicism; females entered training with such attitudes already in place. Study participants (n=1,453) were all enrolled in the basic training college/institute but had not yet begun basic training. Participants expressed their attitudes (favorable or unfavorable) toward statements on a 30-item questionnaire that measured the police cultural themes of solidarity, isolation, and cynicism. "Solidarity" referred to loyalty to other officers. "Isolation" referred to feeling emotional and relational distance from previous friends, the community, the legal system, and family members. "Cynicism" referred to negative attitudes toward and mistrust of the community, media, justice system, and top-ranking police officials. 4 tables and 49 references