NCJ Number
148757
Journal
Policing and Society Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (1994) Pages: 245-255
Date Published
1994
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The impact of the confrontation between Los Angeles police officers and Rodney King in March 1991 on public attitudes toward police was studied using a probability sample of 369 residents representing inner-city neighborhoods in South Central Los Angeles.
Abstract
The research used a multiwave panel design to measure attitude change before and after the King incident. Data collection took place from December 1990 to June 1991 and took place in four waves. The age, race, and gender of participants were studied as independent effects on the attitude toward police, which was measured through an index consisting of five Likert-style items tapping a single dimension of police fairness toward citizens in the enforcement of laws. Results revealed that regardless of age, race, or gender, citizen attitudes toward police were significantly lowered following the King incident. Findings also revealed that the negative perceptions of police fairness were significantly lower and longer-term among blacks than among any other respondent group. Tables and 16 references (Author abstract modified)