NCJ Number
25378
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1975) Pages: 9-14
Date Published
1975
Length
6 pages
Annotation
STUDY DESIGNED TO PROVE THAT THE POLICEMAN'S ON-THE-JOB/ STREET EXPERIENCES ARE OF CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE IN THE FORMATION OF RACIAL PREJUDICE AMONG CORE CITY POLICE OFFICERS.
Abstract
IT WAS ALSO HYPOTHESIZED THAT PAST ATTENTION TO CLASS RELATED RECRUITMENT PATTERNS AND LIMITED EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS OF MANY POLICE OFFICERS AS AN EXPLANATION OF RACIAL PREJUDICE AMONG POLICE OFFICERS HAS BEEN OVERESTIMATED, IS ENTIRELY MISLEADING, AND MAY WELL BE INCORRECT. THIRTY-SEVEN UNDERGRADUATES AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO PARTICIPATED IN POLICE RIDE-ALONG PROGRAMS IN SUBURBAN AND CORE CITY AREAS. ALL SUBJECTS COMPLETED PRE AND POST-RIDE-ALONG QUESTIONNAIRES ELICITING ATTITUDES TOWARD THE LAW, ORIENTATIONS TOWARD RACE RELATIONS, AND IMPRESSIONS OF POLICE. STUDY FINDINGS SHOWED THAT RACIAL HOSTILITY AMONG STUDENTS INCREASED DURING THE OBSERVATION OF POLICE-CITIZEN INTERACTION IN CORE CITY PRECINCTS. IN ADDITION, IDENTIFICATION WITH POLICE AMONG STUDENTS INCREASED DURING THE OBSERVATION OF POLICE-CITIZEN INTERACTION IN CORE CITY PRECINCTS BUT DECREASED DURING THE OBSERVATION OF POLICE-CITIZEN INTERACTION IN THE SUBURBAN PRECINCTS. RESEARCHERS POINT OUT THAT INTERVIEWS WITH STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE CORE CITY EXPERIENCE SEEMED TO REVEAL FACTORS MORE RELATED TO CLASS AND STATUS RATHER THAN RACE AS TRIGGERING THEIR INITIAL RESPONSE. THEY MAINTAIN THAT THE ASSERTION THAT INCREASED COMMUNICATION WILL 'IPSO FACTO' IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN ANTAGONISTIC GROUPS IS CAST INTO SERIOUS DOUBT AND SUGGEST FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FIELD EXPERIENCES AND OCCUPATIONAL IDEOLOGY. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE TENSION BETWEEN POLICE AND CITIZENS IN CORE CITY AREAS WILL BE AMELIORATED BY NEITHER INCREASED COMMUNICATION NOR BY ALTERED RECRUITMENT PATTERNS.