NCJ Number
221015
Journal
Journal of Crime and Justice Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Dated: 2007 Pages: 1-25
Date Published
2007
Length
25 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this research is to add knowledge about how officers in Illinois view specific functions and processes that are common to citizen oversight mechanisms and determine the extent to which they support commonly voiced arguments against citizen oversight.
Abstract
Research results show that officers are less supportive of aspects of citizen oversight that offer greater degrees of independence; there is not a consensus of opposition to some oversight features, and officers are less opposed to some functions that have the potential to bring about meaningful change to police policies. Specifically, officers are unified in their opposition to aspects of citizen oversight that are associated with greater degrees of complaints and subpoena witnesses. Officers did not view citizen oversight mechanisms as a means for preventing misconduct. This current study represents an early step in the process of describing one factor that might play a role in determining successful implementation: officer attitudes toward the reform. Involving citizens in procedures aimed at holding police officers and agencies accountable for their conduct represents a prominent innovation in policing. Today, there are over 100 citizen oversight bodies in the United States. The purpose of this study is to fill a gap in existing knowledge by describing police officers’ attitudes from a city in Illinois toward common functions, processes, and potential outcomes of citizen oversight mechanisms. Tables, notes, references