RESISTING PRISONER - A STUDY OF THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE SITUATIONS

• NCJ Number: 67295
• Author(s): J B SCRIVENER; M J SMITH
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 56 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON - SENIOR THESIS

Annotation

SITUATIONAL VARIABLES ALONE AND IN INTERACTION WITH OTHER VARIABLES ARE EXAMINED IN THEIR IMPACT ON ARREST RESISTANCE IN A SAMPLE OF 505 INCIDENTS OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

Abstract

FOR THIS STUDY, RESISTANCE MEANS ANY TYPE OF PHYSICAL CONTACT BETWEEN OFFICER AND CITIZEN WHERE THE CITIZEN AGGRESSIVELY RESISTS THE OFFICER'S INTENTIONS. THE COMMUNITY FROM WHICH THE SAMPLE WAS TAKEN WAS A MIDWESTERN CITY OF 170,000. OF THE 260 SWORN PERSONNEL IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ABOUT 190 WERE INVOLVED IN THE SAMPLE INCIDENTS. MOST DATA FOR INCIDENT ANALYSIS WERE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICER REPORTING SYSTEM. DATA ON THE ARRESTEE WERE OBTAINED FROM THE JAIL RECORDS. THE CHI SQUARE TEST OF INDEPENDENCE PRODUCED SUPPORTIVE FINDINGS FOR THE HYPOTHESIS THAT CERTAIN SITUATIONAL VARIABLES HAVE A DIRECT INFLUENCE ON RESISTANCE OCCURRENCES. THREE SITUATIONAL VARIABLES--HOW AN INCIDENT WAS INITIATED, WHERE IT OCCURRED, AND THE NATURE OF THE CONTACT--WERE CLEARLY LINKED TO A VIOLENT OUTCOME. OFFICERS WORKING 'SOLO' AND MAKING 'ON-VIEW' OR SELF-INITIATED CONTACTS FOUND THEMSELVES BEING RESISTED MORE OFTEN THAN EXPECTED, WHILE 'SOLO' OFFICERS RESPONDING TO A CALL EXPERIENCED LESS RESISTANCE THAN EXPECTED. OFFICERS ASSISTED AT AN INCIDENT, WHETHER ON-CALL OR ON-VIEW, ENCOUNTERED ONLY THE EXPECTED AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE. THE 'SOLO' OFFICER MET RESISTANCE IN STREET CONTACTS MORE OFTEN THAN EXPECTED, WHILE THE ASSISTED OFFICER ENCOUNTERED SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTIES IN BUSINESS PLACES. RESISTANCE IN RESIDENCES AND OTHER PLACES WAS ABOUT AS EXPECTED. WITH REGARD TO THE NATURE OF THE CONTACT, THE SOLO OFFICER ENCOUNTERED RESISTANCE MORE OFTEN THAN EXPECTED IN TRAFFIC STOPS, WHILE ASSISTED OFFICERS ENCOUNTERED SIGNIFICANT RESISTANCE WITH SUSPECTS, SUSPICIOUS PERSONS, AND DISTURBANCE SITUATIONS. RESISTANCE IN FAMILY CONFLICTS WAS ABOUT AS EXPECTED. FINDINGS CAN BE USED TO DEVISE POLICIES OF OFFICER ACTION IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS THAT CAN REDUCE VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS. TABULAR DATA AND A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)