NCJ Number
174255
Journal
Policing Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: 1998 Pages: 255-268
Date Published
1998
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined the attitudes of students, faculty, administrators, staff, and parents of undergraduates toward arming campus police.
Abstract
The data were collected as part of an overall assessment of constituent satisfaction with the campus police at their university. The sample consisted of 1,800 students, faculty, administrators, staff, and parents of undergraduates drawn from the population at the study university in February 1991. A total of 2,450 surveys were mailed, 1,088 questionnaires were returned in usable form (44 percent response rate). Faculty/administrators had the highest completion rate (72 percent), and freshmen had the lowest completion rate (26 percent). The sample was almost evenly composed of males and females. Of particular interest was respondents' level of support for the carrying of firearms by the campus police. Respondents were 38 percent against arming campus officers, 36 percent for arming them, and 26 percent were somewhere in between. This 26 percent undecided may be the key for policy- makers. Until the tuition-paying constituents (parents and students) demand otherwise, university officials will not be compelled to make a major change in policy due to the repercussions (financial and public relations) such a move may have for the institution. 3 tables, 33 references, and appended survey questions