NCJ Number
54297
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (1977) Pages: 63-79
Date Published
1977
Length
17 pages
Annotation
RESPONSES OF 1,166 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 396 POLICE OFFICERS ON AN ATTITUDE QUESTIONNAIRE SHOW THAT ATTITUDES OF POLICE ARE MORE FLEXIBLE THAN SUSPECTED WHILE STUDENT ATTITUDES RANGE ON A CONTINUUM BY SUBGROUP.
Abstract
IN 1970 AND 1971 THE RUNDQUEST-SLETTO RESPECT FOR LAW SCALE WAS ADMINISTERED TO THE ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL ELEVENTH GRADERS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF A NORTHEASTERN CITY. RESPONSES WERE OBTAINED FROM 92 PERCENT OF THE OFFICERS AND 90 PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS. THESE DATA ARE ANALYZED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS TO EXAMINE COGNITIVE GAPS IN RESPECT FOR LAW AND AUTHORITY. IT WAS FOUND THAT STUDENTS WHO HAD BEEN ARRESTED WERE CLOSEST IN ATTITUDE TO POLICE OFFICERS. THEY HAD GREATER RESPECT FOR POLICE AND SHARED POLICE SKEPTICISM CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF THE COURTS. STUDENTS WHO HAD NEVER BEEN ARRESTED WERE LESS LIKELY TO RESPECT EITHER THE LAW OR THE POLICE. IN GENERAL, THE POLICE WERE MORE RESPECTFUL OF THE LAW THAN STUDENTS BUT WERE LESS LIKELY TO BELIEVE THAT CRIMINALS WERE ALWAYS CAUGHT AND PUNISHED OR THAT COURTS ADMINISTERED JUSTICE IMPARTIALLY REGARDLESS OF RACE OR INCOME. STUDENTS GENERALLY HAD MORE FAITH IN THE COURTS. A TABLE PRESENTS RESPONSES TO ALL 22 SURVEY QUESTIONS. THE RESPONSES ARE ORGANIZED INTO CONTINUUMS BASED ON FOUR CLUSTERS: COURT EFFICACY, ROLES IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM, LEGAL COMPLIANCE, AND FUNCTIONS OF THE LAW. FINDINGS INDICATE THAT POLICE ARE NOT PARTICULARLY PREOCCUPIED WITH RESPECT FOR THE LAW NOR ARE THEY AS RESISTANT TO CHANGE AS OTHER RESEARCHERS AND STUDENTS ASSUME. THE ANALYSIS ALSO SHOWS THAT POLICE BELIEFS FALL INTO SUBCULTURAL PATTERNS, JUST AS DO STUDENT BELIEFS. RESEARCH TO STUDY THESE SUBCULTURES IS SUGGESTED. CHARTS AND GRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE FINDINGS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (GLR)