NCJ Number
178867
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 45 Issue: 4 Dated: October 1999 Pages: 494-507
Date Published
October 1999
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The effects of race and class on public attitudes toward the police and the criminal justice system were studied using recent national survey data.
Abstract
Previous research had revealed that black persons were more likely than white persons to hold unfavorable opinions of criminal justice agencies, but the literature rarely examined whether social class also affected these opinions. Data for the present study came from three sources: (1) a CNN/USA Today/Gallup survey conducted on October 5-7, 1995, and focusing on race relations; (2) a CNN/USA Today/Gallup survey conducted on October 13-18, 1993, and focusing on attitudes toward crime; and (3) an NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey conducted on October 27-31, 1995, and focusing on race relations. The analyses used the data from the black and white participants. Race was found to be a strong predictor of attitudes, and class affected several of these attitudes. An important finding was that middle-class black persons were sometimes more critical of the police and justice system than were lower-class black persons. Findings suggested that police agencies should take steps to minimize actions, including unjustified stops, verbal abuse, and physical mistreatment, that contribute to citizens' perceptions of unequal, racially based handling. Tables, notes, appended instrument and additional results, and 27 references (Author abstract modified)