POLICE PROFESSIONALISM AND CITIZEN EVALUATIONS - A PRELIMINARY LOOK (FROM CLASSES, CONFLICT, AND CONTROL STUDIES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE MANAGEMENT, 1976, BY J MUNRO - SEE NCJ-38450)

• NCJ Number: 38456
• Author(s): R CHACKERIAN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Anderson Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

UTILIZING DATA FROM CITIZEN SURVEYS IN FIVE FLORIDA CITIES AND A STUDY OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OF THESE CITIES, THIS STUDY INVESTIGATED THE RELATIONSHIP OF PROFESSIONALISM TO POSITIVE PUBLIC RATINGS OF POLICE.

Abstract

IT IS NOTED THAT CURRENT LITERATURE ON PROFESSIONALISM SUGGESTS THAT PROFESSIONALISM IMPROVES CITIZEN EVALUATION OF THE POLICE BECAUSE IT LEADS TO GREATER EFFECTIVENESS AND EQUITY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. HOWEVER, CRITICS OF PROFESSIONALISM SUGGEST THAT PROFESSIONALISM WILL HAVE THIS IMPACT ONLY IN HOMOGENEOUS COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE IS LIKELY TO BE CONGRUENCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY STANDARDS. TO TEST THESE IDEAS, THIS STUDY CORRELATED CITIZEN PERCEPTIONS OF POLICE EFFECTIVENESS WITH MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE AND PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE POLICE IN EACH CITY. THE RESULTS SHOWED A NEGATIVE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HIGH PROFESSIONALIZATION AND HIGH EVALUATION. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THIS MAY BE BECAUSE, CONTRARY TO EXPECTATIONS, HIGH CRIME AND LOW ARREST RATES WERE FOUND TO BE MORE, RATHER THAN LESS LIKELY, IN PROFESSIONAL JURISDICTIONS. CITIZEN'S SENSE OF ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO FOUND TO AFFECT THEIR EVALUATIONS, WITH A HIGH SENSE OF ACCESS RELATED POSITIVELY TO HIGH EVALUATIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC