THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST POLICE

• NCJ Number: 27862
• Author(s): D C KIESELHORST
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 76 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-TA-06-0004; 73-DF-06-0053
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: University of Oklahoma
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; University of Oklahoma
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AS PART OF A LARGER STUDY OF ASSAULTS ON POLICE CONDUCTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, THIS REPORT PRESENTS AN ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE AND THE POLICE ROLE, AND SUGGESTS A THEORY OF POLICE ASSAULT CAUSES.

Abstract

FIRST, SUCH TERMS AS VIOLENCE, FORCE, AND ASSAULT ARE CAREFULLY DEFINED. THEN, DRAWING UPON THESE DEFINITIONS AS WELL AS THE LITERATURE OF VIOLENCE, THE AUTHOR CONSTRUCTS A THEORY OF THE FORCES MOTIVATING AN ASSAILANT. HE CONCLUDES THAT IN ALL BUT THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL CASES, E.G., INSANITY, SOCIAL CONDITIONS CAUSE THE POLICE TO BE ASSAULTED BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE THE OFTEN UNWITTING PARTICIPANTS IN A STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE HAVES AND THE HAVE-NOTS. THOSE WHOSE NEEDS FOR SELFESTEEM AND MATERIAL SUCCESS ARE DENIED TEND TO VIEW THE POLICEMAN AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THOSE WHO DO THE DENYING. THE ASSAILANTS DO NOT RESPECT THE LAWS OF SOCIETY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THE LAWS ACT AGAINST THEM AND ONLY BENEFIT THOSE IN POWER. IF THESE ARE ACTUALLY THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDERLYING MOST POLICE ASSAULTS, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THESE INCIDENTS CAN BE ACHIEVED ONLY THROUGH SUBSTANTIAL SOCIAL CHANGE. TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD BE TO MERELY TREAT THE SYMPTOMS RATHER THAN THE CAUSES OF POLICE ASSAULTS. FOR OTHER REPORTS OF THE POLICE ASSAULTS STUDY, SEE NCJ-27926, NCJ-27929, 27930, 27932, 27967 27863, 27864, AND 27867. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)