Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Police: An Emphasis on Interactions Between the Delinquency Measures of Alcohol and Marijuana, Police Contacts and Attitudes

• NCJ Number: 110207
• Journal: American Journal of Police Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (Fall 1987) Pages: 45-62
• Author(s): T C Cox; S D Falkenberg
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Citizens' attitudes toward the police are an important facet in the total crime control efforts by the police.

Abstract

Considerable variance exists between various subgroups in their attitudes toward the police. Adolescents are among the more hostile subgroups. It is often believed that these hostilities are the result of involvement in unlawful activity. Several researchers have consistently demonstrated that police contacts are related to negative attitudes toward the police. An important assumption in police work is that citizens who harbor negative sentiments toward the police are motivated by the threat that the police represent to them. An important part of this research focuses on the interactions between delinquency measures of involvement in alcohol and marijuana, police contacts, and attitudes toward the police. The sample includes adolescents from predominantly rural areas. (Author abstract)