POLICE VIOLENCE AS A FUNCTION OF COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS

• NCJ Number: 42109
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (MAY 1977) Pages: 27-48
• Author(s): R R KANIA; W C MACKEY
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTHORS FIND THAT EXISITNG MODELS CONCERNING POLICE VIOLENCE ARE NOT DESIGNED TO EXPLAIN VARIATION AMONG THE STATES IN THE RATES OF POLICE USE OF DEADLY FORCE.

Abstract

THIS VARIATION CORRELATES SIGNIFICANTLY WITH NUMEROUS CULTURAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE PUBLIC. THE STRONGEST CORRELATES ARE WITH THE PUBLIC RATES OF VIOLENCE. THEREFORE, THE AUTHORS PROPOSE TO MODIFY EXISTING MODELS, AND EXPLAIN THE POLICE USE OF VIOLENCE AS A RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS. WHERE PUBLIC VIOLENCE IS NEITHER NORMATIVE NOR COMMONLY OCCURRENT, THE POLICE WILL BE SELF-RESTRAINED. WHERE THE INCIDENCE OF VIOLENCE REVEALS A COMMON MEANS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION, THE POLICE WILL ADOPT ITS USE. THUS, THE AUTHORS BELIEVE THAT THE POLICE USE OF VIOLENCE IS A CULTURALLY DETERMINED CHARACTERISTIC, AND NOT A POLICE PATHOLOGY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...KAP