NCJ Number
50413
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1978) Pages: 133-149
Date Published
1978
Length
17 pages
Annotation
VICTIMS' PERCEPTIONS AND EVALUATIONS OF POLICE BEHAVIOR IN VICTIMIZATION SITUATIONS ARE EXAMINED IN AN ANALYSIS OF DATA GATHERED IN A 1975 SURVEY OF HARRISBURG, PA., HOUSEHOLDS.
Abstract
THE ANALYSIS IS BASED ON 111 INCIDENTS INVOLVING INTERACTIONS BETWEEN POLICE AND VICTIMS. SURVEY QUESTIONS COVERED VICTIMS' PERCEPTIONS OF RESPONSE TIME AND INVESTIGATIONS, CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE INCIDENT (E.G., WHETHER A SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED AND/OR CONVICTED), AND VICTIM SATISFACTION WITH POLICE PERFORMANCE. THE SURVEY FOUND THAT 46 PERCENT OF THE VICTIMS WERE SATISFIED WITH OVERALL POLICE PERFORMANCE, 44 PERCENT WERE DISSATISFIED, AND 10 PERCENT WERE UNCERTAIN. SATISFACTION WAS HIGHEST AMONG VICTIMS OF CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS AND WHEN POLICE RESPONSE TIME WAS RELATIVELY SHORT. THE ONLY SOCIOECONOMIC VARIABLE SIGNIFICANTLY ASSOCIATED WITH OVERALL SATISFACTION WAS INCOME: VICTIMS WITH HIGHER INCOMES WERE LESS SATISFIED. OVERALL SATISFACTION WAS SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO SATISFACTION WITH RESPONSE TIME, WITH INITIAL INVESTIGATION, AND WITH FOLLOWUP INVESTIGATION. SATISFACTION WITH POLICE PERFORMANCE TENDED TO DECREASE AT LATER STAGES OF THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS. FOR CASES INVOLVING A FOLLOWUP INVESTIGATION, OVERALL SATISFACTION WAS LINKED MORE TO SATISFACTION WITH RESPONSE TIME OR WITH INITIAL INVESTIGATION. SUPPORTING DATA AND LISTS OF REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)