NCJ Number
16454
Date Published
1969
Length
224 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A RESEARCH PROJECT WHICH EXAMINED PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE AND, WHERE POSSIBLE, POLICE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PUBLIC, BASED ON EXTENSIVE SURVEYS CARRIED OUT AMONG CITIZENS AND POLICE.
Abstract
THE QUESTIONNAIRES USED WERE BASED ON A 1960 BRITISH HOME OFFICE SURVEY OF THE POLICE AND PUBLIC. SEVERAL STAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND POLICE FORCES ARE EXAMINED WITH REFERENCE TO THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE PROBLEMS OF POLICE IN ESTABLISHING GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC. PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE, INCLUDING SUCH FACTORS AS RESPECT FOR POLICE, POLICE MISCONDUCT, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO THE POLICE, AND THE NEED FOR POLICE ARE REPORTED. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE POLICE REACTIONS TO THE SURVEY, POLICE VIEWS ON PUBLIC ATTITUDES, AND POLICE VIEWS ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. POLICE ATTITUDES WITH RESPECT TO THEIR JOBS ARE REVIEWED AS WELL. AREAS OF CONFLICT SUCH AS YOUTH, MOTORISTS, AND THE MEDIA ARE EXAMINED, AND THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF THE POLICE FORCES ARE DISCUSSED. SUGGESTED METHODS FOR IMPROVING POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE PROVIDED.