CONTACT AND SUPPORT - AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE AND THE COURTS

• NCJ Number: 29293
• Journal: North Carolina Law Review Volume: 51 Issue: 1 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1972) Pages: 43-79
• Author(s): D WALKER; R J RICHARDSON; J DENYER; O WILLIAMS; S MCGAUGHEY
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 37 pages
• Corporate Author: University of North Carolina
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN EXPLORATION OF THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF CONTACT OF NORTH CAROLINA CITIZENS WITH STATE POLICE AND COURTS, AND THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SATISFACTION WITH THESE CONTACTS AND THE LEVEL AND NATURE OF RESULTING SUPPORT.

Abstract

DATA FOR THE STUDY WERE OBTAINED FROM INTERVIEWS WITH OVER 1000 NON-INSTITUTIONALIZED ADULTS IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE AUTHORS DEMONSTRATE THAT THE EXTENT OF PUBLIC CONTACT WITH THESE AGENCIES IS BROAD AND THAT THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT IS HIGH. THE DATA SHOW THAT THE SATISFACTION AND DISSATISFACTION OF CITIZEN CONTACTS IS STRONGLY RELATED TO THE CHANGING, SPECIFIC OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY INDIVIDUALS. THESE OPINIONS CREATE THE IMMEDIATE ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH THE POLICE AND COURTS MUST FUNCTION AND THE MORE ENDURING, GENERALIZED PUBLIC ATTITUDES ABOUT THE COMPETENCE, IMPARTIALITY, AND QUALITY OF PERFORMANCE OF THESE PERSONNEL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)