NCJ Number
212306
Journal
Criminal Justice Review Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Dated: May 2005 Pages: 30-44
Date Published
May 2005
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined the suspect characteristics associated with resistance to arrest during police-citizen encounters.
Abstract
While a plethora of research has examined many facets of police-citizen interactions, only a handful of studies have explored predictors of suspect resistance in an effort to reduce injuries to police officers. The current study examined a random sample of 400 police reports from a medium-sized urban police department in Southern California to explore the suspect characteristics associated with arrest resistance. Data on 7 predictor variables were examined for the 200 police-citizen encounters involving physical suspect resistance and the 200 police-citizen encounters that did not involve physical suspect resistance. Results of logistic regression analysis indicated suspects who resisted arrest were more likely to be arrested in police beats characterized by a disproportionate number of calls for service. Moreover, Black suspects were more likely to resist arrest than White or Hispanic suspects. Future research should focus on the thought processes of suspects who physically resist arrest. Tables, references