NCJ Number
46293
Date Published
1977
Length
33 pages
Annotation
REASONS ARE EXPLORED FOR THE APPARENT MUTUAL HOSTILITY BETWEEN POLICE AND PUBLIC WHERE COOPERATIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT CRIME ARE MOST NEEDED AND ARE LEAST IN EVIDENCE.
Abstract
VARIOUS STUDIES FROM COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ARE USED TO SHOW PREVAILING ATTITUDES EXISTING BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC. MUTUAL HOSTILITY IS MOST APPARENT BETWEEN THE POLICE AND PEOPLE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND REGIONS WHERE CRIME TENDS TO BE HIGH AND THE CONTROLLING POWERS OF THE POLICE ARE MOST IN EVIDENCE. STUDIES HAVE REVEALED THE MOST TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PERSON HAVING LEAST POSITIVE REGARD FOR THE POLICE TO BE MALE, YOUNG, AND LIVING IN AN URBAN SLUM AREA. EXAMINATIONS OF POLICE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PUBLIC HAVE INDICATED A PREVAILING AGGRESSIVENESS AND DEFENSIVENESS THAT MOST OFTEN STEMS FROM THE PERCEPTION THAT THE PUBLIC RESENTS THE POLICE AND THEIR OPERATIONS. THE EVOLUTION OF A SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUBCULTURE WITHIN THE RANKS OF THE POLICE THAT TENDS TO ISOLATE THEM FROM THE PUBLIC IN BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIFE IS VIEWED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE POLICE ATTITUDE TOWARD THE PUBLIC. SUCH ISOLATION IS CONSIDERED A MAJOR CAUSE OF STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THOSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH WHOM THEY INTERACT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES, THUS PERPETUATING AND CONFIRMING SUSPICION AND MISTRUST. WHILE IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT NO EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE EXISTS TO SHOW THAT POSITIVE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC LEADS TO MORE EFFECTIVE CRIME PREVENTION, IT IS PRESENTED AS A LOGICAL CONCLUSION. OTHER MEANS AIDING CRIME PREVENTION ARE MENTIONED AS FOLLOWS: INCREASED POLICE EFFECTIVENESS IN DETECTING OFFENSES AND APPREHENDING THE GUILTY; ENCOURAGING CITIZENS TO TAKE STEPS FOR THEIR OWN SELF-PROTECTION; AND ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES AIMED AT REMOVING THE CAUSES OF CRIMINALITY, FOR EXAMPLE, ESTABLISHING YOUTH CLUBS AND GENERALLY SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO CHANGE DEBILITATING SOCIAL CONDITIONS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED.