NCJ Number
64141
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 449-458
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE ADDRESSES GOALS AND MEANS CONFLICT BETWEEN THE POLICE AND OTHER GROUPS IN SOCIETY AND AMONG THE POLICE THEMSELVES. OFFICERS IN FOUR MEDIUM-SIZED MIDWESTERN CITIES WERE STUDIED.
Abstract
VIEWS OF POLICE OFFICERS WERE EXAMINED WITH REGARD TO (1) A SERIES OF POLICY-RELATED ISSUES AND (2) PERCEPTIONS OF SUPPORT OF OTHERS WHOSE GOALS MAY CONFLICT WITH THEIR OWN. IN ADDITION, THE RELATIONSHIP OF THESE PERCEPTIONS TO SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS AND ATTITUDES OF THE INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS WERE STUDIED. DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM QUESTIONNAIRES RETURNED BY 314 POLICE OFFICERS. RESPONSES TO 'SUPPORT' QUESTIONS INDICATED THAT ONLY ONE THIRD BELIEVED THEY COULD COUNT ON THEIR SUPERIORS IF THEY GOT INTO TROUBLE, AND ONLY 31 PERCENT THOUGHT THAT THE PUBLIC APPRECIATED THEIR WORK. THREE DIMENSIONS OF SUPPORT RECOGNIZED WERE THE FAMILY, THE POLITICAL RIGHT, AND MAINSTREAM INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS. A NUMBER OF ITEMS RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICIES SUCH AS VICTIMLESS CRIMES, NEIGHBORHOOD BEATS, PROFESSIONALISM, AND DEGREE OF CONSTRAINT ON POLICE WERE PRESENTED ON A LIKERT-SCALE TO ASCERTAIN GOAL PERCEPTIONS AND MEASURE DEGREE OF CONSENSUS. THERE WAS CONSENSUS ON DISAPPROVAL OF CRIMINALS ESCAPING PUNISHMENT THROUGH LEGAL TECHNICALITIES AND PLEA BARGAINING, RULES AND REGULATIONS CONSTRAINING POLICE, AND INSUFFICIENT PROFESSIONALIZATION EFFORTS. ON THE OTHER HAND, A NUMBER OF KEY ISSUES CONCERNING USE OF FORCE, WIRETAPPING AND EQUAL ENFORCEMENT OF ALL LAWS SHOWED FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT AMONG RESPONDENTS. HOWEVER, THESE ISSUES WERE HIGHLY PARTICULARIZED AND DID NOT FORM BROAD DIVISIONS. PERCEPTIONS OF SUPPORT AND GOAL CONFLICT AMONG THE POLICE WITH RESPECT TO A STRONGER POLICE FORCE WERE RELATED TO JOB ATTITUDES AND POLITICAL AND PERSONALITY TRAITS OF THE OFFICER. TABULAR DATA AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)