NCJ Number
68669
Date Published
1979
Length
40 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT ON THE ATTITUDES OF BRITISH YOUTH TOWARD THE POLICE REVEALS THAT MANY ARE FEARFUL AND HOSTILE BECAUSE OF BAD POLICE EXPERIENCES; DISCUSSION OF THE POLICE-YOUTH PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED.
Abstract
FEAR OF THE POLICE RECURS CONSTANTLY IN CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUTH CONDUCTED FOR THIS REPORT. YOUTH FEEL THE POLICE WILL PICK THEM UP ON ANY PRETEXT AND DO NOT WISH TO HELP THEM; THEY ARE AFRAID TO GO TO POLICE STATIONS FOR HELP AND MANY ARE OPENLY HOSTILE TO ALL POLICE PROCEEDINGS. MANY YOUTH REGARD THE POLICE AS DESTRUCTIVE ENEMIES, AND THE POLICE-YOUTH PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY BAD AMONG BLACKS. THE ATTITUDES OF THESE YOUTH ARISE OUT OF THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES AND THOSE OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY. FURTHER, MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE A TRADITION OF HATING AND FEARING THE POLICE THAT THEY PASS ON TO THEIR CHILDREN; YOUTHS' PEER ASSOCIATIONS FURTHER INTENSIFY THE FEAR AND HOSTILITY. SURVEYS INDICATE THAT MANY YOUTHS HAVE HAD BAD EXPERIENCES WITH THE POLICE, AS THE LATTER MARK YOUTH GROUPS FOR INTERFERENCE AND SURVEILLANCE, WHETHER OR NOT THEY BREAK THE LAW OR CAUSE TROUBLE. MOREOVER, THE POLICE MORE OFTEN ABUSE AND TREAT SEVERELY THE POOR, THE YOUNG, AND MINORITIES. YOUTH COMPLAIN THAT THE POLICE OFTEN ARREST OR DETAIN THEM IN REACTION TO POLICE-YOUTH TENSION, OR THAT THE POLICE ABUSE THEM DURING DETENTION. THE RESULTING RESENTMENT IN YOUTHS IS OFTEN A CAUSE FOR REAL OFFENSES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE POLICE SERIOUSLY ABUSE YOUTHS AND THAT POLICE-YOUTH RELATIONS ARE VERY BAD. IT IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED THAT THE POLICE BE GIVEN NO ADDITIONAL POWERS IN DEALING WITH YOUTHS, THAT POLICE PROCEDURES BE CLARIFIED, AND THAT LIMITATIONS ON POLICE CONDUCT DURING SEARCH, ARREST, AND DETENTION BE STATUTORY. CONVERSATION TRANSCRIPTS AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF 9 REPORTS, APPROXIMATELY 30 ARTICLES, AND 12 BOOKS ARE INCLUDED.