POLICE LEGITIMATION OF VIOLENCE

• NCJ Number: 35357
• Author(s): J A MELE
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 67 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY - DISSERTATION

Annotation

THIS STUDY SEEKS TO DETERMINE IF ANY CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN POLICE ATTITUDES TOWARD LEGITIMIZATION OF VIOLENCE WITHIN THE LAST TWO DECADES.

Abstract

THE BASIS FOR THIS RESEARCH WAS A STUDY CONDUCTED IN 1951, WHICH SOUGHT TO MEASURE THE CIRCUMSTANCE UNDER WHICH POLICE JUSTIFIED THE USE OF VIOLENCE. IN THE STUDY, 69 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS CHOSE RESPONSES THAT INVOLVED THE ILLEGAL USE OF FORCE AND 31 PERCENT CHOSE THOSE CONDONING LEGAL FORCE. IN THIS REPLICATION, THE SAMPLE WAS HELD AS CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL GROUP AS POSSIBLE. IN THE REPLICATION, ONLY TWO PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS SELECTED AN ILLEGAL CATEGORY AND 98 PERCENT PICKED THE LEGAL USE OF FORCE CATEGORIES. FROM THE DATA COLLECTED, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE ATTITUDES OF POLICE OFFICERS CONCERNING THE USE OF VIOLENCE TO ENFORCE THE LAW HAS UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE LAST TWO DECADES, AND THAT THE POLICE ARE LESS INCLINED TO USE VIOLENCE AND ARE MORE STRINGENT IN THEIR CRITERIA FOR ITS ACCEPTABILITY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)