POLICE FUNCTION AND THE PROBLEM OF EXTERNAL CONTROL (FROM POLICE IN SOCIETY, 1975 BY EMILIO C VIANA AND JEFFREY H REIMAN - SEE NCJ-29466)

• NCJ Number: 29467
• Author(s): R J LUNDMAN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTHOR, CITING EVIDENCE THAT POLICE ARE PRIMARILY INFLUENCED BY EXTRA-LEGAL FACTORS IN THE EXERCISE OF ARREST, CITATION, AND REPORT DISCRETION, CONCLUDES THAT SOCIETY HAS FAILED IN ITS OBLIGATION TO SUPERVISE POLICE.

Abstract

THE RESULTS OF SEVEN SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH STUDIES ON POLICE ARE SUMMARIZED. IN EACH STUDY, POLICE OFFICERS WERE FOUND TO BE INFLUENCED MORE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTY BY SUCH FACTORS AS AN INDIVIDUAL'S RACE, SOCIAL STATUS, AND ATTITUDE, THAN BY LEGAL FACTORS, SUCH AS EVIDENCE, PRIOR ARREST RECORD, OR SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE.