NCJ Number
131464
Journal
Cenipec Revista Issue: 11 Dated: (1988) Pages: 27-53
Date Published
1988
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Information from two residential neighborhoods in a medium-sized city in Venezuela formed the basis of an analysis of the level of police intervention in high- and low-income neighborhoods.
Abstract
The research took place over a 6-month period, during which police presence was substantially increased in one high-income and one low-income residential neighborhood through the assignment of two officers to each zone for a total of 8 hours a day. Interviews with both police and residents gathered data on police-citizen interactions. Results showed that police behavior was more assertive and active in the low-income neighborhood. Factors associated with the level of police intervention included the officers' perception of the seriousness of the situation, where the situation occurred, and whether or not a crime had been committed. However, variables defining the characteristics of community members such as leader, resident, offender, or victim did not influence the level of police intervention. Tables, footnotes, and 8 references. (Author abstract modified)