NCJ Number
35493
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1976) Pages: 29-46
Date Published
1976
Length
18 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON A STUDY WHICH EXPLORED HOW POLICE OFFICERS REACT TO AMBIGUOUS SITUATIONS, AND WHAT FACTORS IN INDIVIDUAL DISCRETIONARY SITUATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS INFLUENCE DECISION-MAKING.
Abstract
THE 209 SUBJECTS TESTED WERE ALL POLICE RECRUITS UNDERGOING BASIC TRAINING AT ONE OF THE POLICE TRAINING ACADEMIES IN NEW JERSEY AND REPRESENTED A FULL RANGE OF AGE, EDUCATIONAL, AND EXPERIENTIAL BACKGROUNDS. RECRUITS WERE ASKED TO READ EACH OF FIVE INCIDENT DESCRIPTIONS AND TO INDICATE FOR EACH CASE THEIR AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENT WITH THE POLICE RESPONSE DESCRIBED AND WHAT THEIR OWN RESPONSE WOULD HAVE BEEN. THE ILLUSTRATIVE SITUATIONS DEALT WITH SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF STATUTES ON GAMBLING, DRUNKENNESS, WELFARE FRAUD, PROSTITUTION, AND JUVENILE OFFENSES. ANALYSIS OF STUDY FINDINGS REVEALED THAT THE POLICE RESPONSE WAS VERY DEFINITELY INCLINED TOWARD TAKING ACTIONS OTHER THAN INVOCATION OF THE FORMAL CRIMINAL PROCESS. THE POLICE RECRUITS WERE ALSO GENERALLY NOT INCLINED TO IGNORE THE SITUATIONS. THE PRIMARY FACTOR WHICH SEEMED TO INFLUENCE THE EXERCISE OF DISCRETION WAS THE DESIRE ON THE PART OF THE RESPONDENTS TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN PUBLIC IMAGE OF THE POLICE ROLE, BASED UPON THEIR JUDGEMENT OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S EXPECTATIONS OF THE APPROPRIATE POLICE RESPONSE ARE. THIS JUDGEMENT WAS MOST INFLUENCED BY THE ACCUMULATION OF EXPERIENCE OR 'STREET WISDOM'. REFERENCE ARE INCLUDED.