Public Perceptions of the Police in Texas

• NCJ Number: 93368
• Author(s): R H C Teske; L T Hoover; R H Meyer
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 28 pages
• Corporate Author: Sam Houston State University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Sam Houston State University; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A l982 survey of a representative sample of Texas residents revealed that the majority of the l,343 respondents rated their law enforcement officers positively on all categories, with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers receiving the highest overall ratings.

Abstract

The questionnaire mailed to 2,000 residents in l8l counties examined attitudes toward police, formal and informal contacts with police, and extent to which Texans use police services. Of the respondents, 8l.2 percent were white, 6.5 percent black, l0.9 percent Spanish-surnamed, and l.4 of other origins. Males accounted for 52.56 percent, and the sample's median age was 39. With respect to professionalism, fairness, and competence, the DPS troopers received a positive rating from at least 80 percent of the respondents, while over 60 percent rated local police and sheriffs' departments positively in these categories. Of the respondents, 57 percent reported at least one contact with the police during l98l. The most frequent type of contact was a traffic stop at 29.2 percent; followed by other reasons at 24 percent, such as reporting a suspicious activity or medical emergency; and reporting a victimization at l6.4 percent. When asked about professionalism and courteousness in these contacts, at least 60 percent rated the officer positively, with the exception of misdemeanor arrest. The majority of respondents stopped for traffic and involved in accidents rated their police contacts positively. While 62 percent and 77 percent of the respondents who had reported at least one victimization rated officers in charge positively on professionalism and courteousness, respectively, less than half were satisfied with the overall job done by the police. Responses from witnesses to crime showed a similar tendency to rate the officer positively, but be dissatisfied with police handling of the case. Only l2 percent of the respondents indicated they had participated in at least one crime prevention program during l98l. Approximately one-half the respondents felt crime in their community had become worse over the last 3 years. Tables and an executive summary are supplied.