Police Quarterly recent issues

A Sheriffs Office as a Learning Organization

Crank, J. P., Giacomazzi, A. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:53:34 PST

The purpose of this article is to describe a strategic methodology, which is developed from learning organization theory and used to assess a Western Sheriff ’s Office. The authors use learning organization theory to augment four programmatic innovations carried out by the Ada County Sheriff ’s Office in Idaho. The learning model is mixed method: Quantitatively, it makes use of a stratified citizen survey and a deputy survey. Qualitatively, citizen and sheriff ’s deputy focus groups provide meaning from the point of view of environmental actors. The primary products of this method are presented here as narratives that present a comprehensive perspective on the way in which environmental actors viewed programs carried out by the Sheriff ’s Office.

Dissecting Police Professionalism: A Comparison of Predictors Within Five Professionalism Subsets

Carlan, P. E., Lewis, J. A. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:53:34 PST

This study captured and compared significant predictors within each of Hall’s professionalism subsets. Questionnaires mailed in one southern state to all municipal police departments with 50 or more sworn personnel (N = 21) produced 1,114 responses (57% response rate) from 16 participating departments. Analysis revealed that officers identified with all five components of professionalism even though policing, in general, is not yet universally recognized as a profession. Regression findings indicated that rank was a significant predictor in all but the public service model. Age, education, marital status, and hours worked also played a significant role in varying professionalism models.

Examining Racial Disparity in the Police Discipline Process

Rojek, J., Decker, S. H. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:53:34 PST

This article examines the police discipline process of a large police department for patterns of disparity in the treatment of minority officers.The analysis is based on 5 years of data collected from the internal affairs division of the department, which captures information on formally documented complaints, determinations of allegations of guilt, and penalties applied. The analysis reveals that minority officers are overrepresented in formally documented complaints, specifically in complaints initiated by other department officers and supervisors. However, analysis utilizing logistic regression finds that officer race is not a significant factor in determining guilt or degree of penalty applied. The implications of these findings and considerations for future research are discussed.

An Examination of the Workplace Experiences of Police Patrol Officers: The Role of Race, Sex, and Sexual Orientation

Hassell, K. D., Brandl, S. G. — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:53:34 PST

Reform efforts in many police departments have diversified the workforce, especially with regard to race, sex, and sexual orientation. Research, however, has demonstrated that the assimilation of these officers has not been problem-free. Using data collected from a large, municipal police department, this article examines the workplace experiences of patrol officers and a potential consequence of those experiences: stress. We find that being female and being a racial/ethnic minority brings with it substantially different experiences on the job compared to male and White officers. Our findings also confirm previous research that workplace climate has an effect on workplace stress.

Measuring Homeland Security Innovation in Small Municipal Agencies: Policing in a Post--9/11 World

Schafer, J. A., Burruss, G. W., Giblin, M. J. — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:11:40 PDT

Though homeland security has been the focus of ample rhetoric since the 9/11 attacks, empirical accounts of actual innovations in local American policing have been lacking. This study considers the measurement of homeland security innovations within small municipal departments in the state of Illinois. Using survey data, the analysis examines perceptions of risk, engagement in preparatory measures, and perceptions of response capacities within these small agencies. The analysis also considers whether innovation and associated issues are influenced by being located in the Chicago metropolitan area, an urban county, or a rural county. Results suggest limited differences across these regions, with most differences likely emerging due to variation in respondent’s proximity to larger peer agencies. The results are discussed within the context of extant literature on policing in small agencies and rural communities.

Creating Blind Photoarrays Using Virtual Human Technology: A Feasibility Test

Cutler, B. L., Daugherty, B., Babu, S., Hodges, L., Van Wallendael, L. — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:11:40 PDT

This article examined the feasibility of a computer-based program that alleviates the human resource challenge associated with blind photoarrays (photoarrays in which the investigator is blind to the suspect’s identity). Students watched videotaped crimes and attempted to identify the perpetrators from photoarays conducted by a "virtual officer" who responds to simple voice commands or by research assistants playing the role of investigators. The student investigators and virtual officer produced comparable identification performance and student reactions to the photoarray procedures. Results of this evaluation study are encouraging, and the authors recommend further laboratory and field testing of the virtual officer technology for conducting blind lineups.

Concern About Crime and Confidence in the Police: Reassurance or Accountability?

Skogan, W. G. — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:11:40 PDT

This article examines the relationship between confidence in the police and concern about crime. A large body of research on opinions about police treats confidence in the police as a dependent variable that is influenced by assessments of neighborhood conditions. These studies argue that people hold police accountable for local crime, disorder, and fear. Another large body of literature on public perceptions of crime treats concern about crime as a dependent variable that is influenced by confidence in the police. This research stresses the reassurance effects of policing. Taken as a whole, these studies thus assume contradictory causal orderings of these two correlated factors. It is also possible that the relationship between the two is instead reciprocal, with confidence and concern affecting each other, but this possibility has never been tested. This article addresses this central theoretical ambiguity in research on public perceptions, using panel data and structural modeling to identify the most plausible causal ordering of concern about crime and confidence in police. The findings support the reassurance model: reductions in concern about crime flow from increasing confidence in the police, while an accountability link from concern about crime to confidence in the police was much weaker and not statistically significant.

Exploring the Use of DNA Evidence in Homicide Investigations: Implications for Detective Work and Case Clearance

Schroeder, D. A., White, M. D. — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:11:40 PDT

Since the 1960s there has been a consistent gradual decline in national homicide clearance rates and the trend continued throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century, despite the development of DNA evidence. Although the media portrays DNA testing as an investigative "super weapon" for police, there is little empirical research examining its actual use by detectives or its impact on case clearance. This article examines New York Police Department (NYPD) case files for Manhattan homicides between 1996 and 2003 to investigate how often detectives used DNA evidence in the course of their investigations, as well as how its use influenced the likelihood of case clearance. Results suggest that DNA evidence was rarely used by NYPD detectives and that it was not related to case clearance. These findings suggest that NYPD detectives used DNA evidence as a "tool of last resort," relying on it only when all other investigative means had been exhausted. The authors conclude that the explanation for these findings is complex and that the diffusion framework may be helpful in understanding detectives’ use of DNA evidence in New York and elsewhere.

A Field Data Examination of Policy Constructs Related to Fatigue Conditions in Law Enforcement Personnel

Senjo, S. R., Dhungana, K. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:32:30 PDT

This study used systematic, semistructured qualitative field interviews for a purposive sample of law enforcement agency directors (e.g., police chiefs, sheriffs) to analyze policy constructs that affect the relationship between fatigue and job performance in law enforcement. Trained interviewers gathered a breadth of field data that describe department-level approaches to policy on secondary employment, overtime, court appearances, and other job-related activities that affect the fatigue of line officers. The findings reveal the reality of a tired workforce but a low-level desire among agency chiefs to have fatigue reduction policy. Where such policy exists, a business-like managerialism dominated executive conceptualization rather than citizen safety or civil liability orientations. Informal controls, rather than formal rules, emerged as applicable tools used to address and reduce officer fatigue.

A Geographic Approach to Racial Profiling: The Microanalysis and Macroanalysis of Racial Disparity in Traffic Stops

Roh, S., Robinson, M. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:32:30 PDT

Despite numerous studies explaining racial disparity in traffic stops, the effects of spatial characteristics in patrolling areas have not been widely examined. In this article, the authors analyzed traffic stop data at both micro- and macrolevels. The microlevel analysis of individual stops confirmed racial disparity in the frequency of traffic stops as well as in subsequent police treatments. Blacks were overrepresented and other racial and ethnic groups were underrepresented in traffic stops, with a greater disparity in investigatory stops. The macrolevel analysis found that the likelihood of being stopped and being subjected to unfavorable police treatment (e.g. arrest, search, and felony charge) was greater in beats where more Blacks or Hispanics resided and/or more police force was deployed, consistent with the racial threat or minority threat hypothesis. These findings imply that racial disparity at the level of individual stops may be substantially explained by differential policing strategies adopted for different areas based on who resides in those areas. Policy implications for problem-oriented policing and hot spot policing are discussed.

Citizen Trust in Police: The Case of China

Yuning Wu, , Sun, I. Y. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:32:30 PDT

This study assesses the extent to which Chinese citizens trust their police and explores factors that account for variation in public trust in police. Very few studies have empir ically examined Chinese attitudes toward police. Using conflict theory as the guiding theo retical framework and interview data collected from eight Chinese cities, the study tests the effects of conflict variables, including gender, age, education, income, employment, and perceived political influence, and relevant control variables on Chinese public trust in police. The results show that conflict variables only have a modest explanatory power o Chinese attitudes toward police. Younger Chinese and Chinese with lower levels of per ceived political power tend to have lower levels of trust in police. Chinese attitudes toward police are also influenced by satisfaction with public safety, governmental capability of dealing with crime, quality of life, and corruption among government officials Implications for future research are discussed.

Exploring the Relationship Between Experience and Problem Behaviors: A Longitudinal Analysis of Officers From a Large Cohort

Harris, C. J. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:32:30 PDT

This study explores the relationship between police officer experience and problem behaviors using longitudinal data gathered from a large cohort of officers. As extant research on problem behaviors has been cross-sectional and gathered for a limited number of years, little is known about the patterns of these behaviors over time. As there is no guidance in police research for examining these behaviors across experience, the criminal career paradigm is employed. Results suggest that although experience and problem behaviors are related in an orderly way in the aggregate, there is a substantial amount of variation in these behaviors across the police population. Implications are discussed.

Assessing the Impact of Oversight and Procedural Justice on the Attitudes of Individuals Who File Police Complaints

De Angelis, J. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:32:30 PDT

This article uses the procedural justice perspective and anonymous mailed surveys to examine the effect the implementation of a new citizen oversight agency in one mid-sized Western city had on levels of satisfaction among citizens who filed complaints against police officers. The results indicate that the implementation of the oversight agency improved levels of satisfaction with certain parts of the complaint process, such as the quality of communication and the thoroughness of the process. However, the new citizen agency had no statistically significant direct effect on levels of satisfaction with either the complaint process as a whole or with complaint outcomes.

Lies, True Lies, and Conscious Deception: Police Officers and the Truth

Alpert, G. P., Noble, J. J. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:32:30 PDT

Police officers often tell lies; they act in ways that are deceptive, they manipulative people and situations, they coerce citizens, and are dishonest. They are taught, encouraged, and often rewarded for their deceptive practices. Officers often lie to suspects about witnesses and evidence, and they are deceitful when attempting to learn about criminal activity. Most of these actions are sanctioned, legal, and expected. Although they are allowed to be dishonest in certain circumstances, they are also required to be trustworthy, honest, and maintain the highest level of integrity. The purpose of this article is to explore situations when officers can be dishonest, some reasons that help us understand the dishonesty, and circumstances where lies may lead to unintended consequences such as false confessions. The authors conclude with a discussion of how police agencies can manage the lies that officers tell and the consequences for the officers, organizations, and the criminal justice system.

Guidelines for Preparing Manuscripts for Police Quarterly

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:32:30 PDT

Editorial

Worrall, J. L. — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:52:29 PST

Officer and Suspect Demeanor: A Qualitative Analysis of Change

Dunham, R. G., Alpert, G. P. — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:52:29 PST

This study explores police—citizen encounters and the reaction of each actor to the demeanor of the other throughout the interaction. Police—citizen interactions can be understood as a sequence of events, often changing rapidly and making transitions from being trivial to serious exchanges. The sequence of actions and reactions is designed to support the expectations of both actors. Although we understand that these interactions are guided or driven by the actor's needs and abilities to influence, and even coerce, each other, we are not clear on the precise definition or role of the actors' demeanor. Most previous research has been limited to a measure of demeanor at one point in time. Our design allowed for measurement of changes in demeanor as the police—citizen interaction developed, and our examination revealed that the demeanor of both officers and suspects changed during the encounters in a substantial number of cases.

The Limits of Regional Data Sharing and Regional Problem Solving: Observations From the East Valley, CA COMPASS Initiative

Boba, R., Weisburd, D., Meeker, J. W. — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:52:29 PST

This article examines regional data sharing for regional problem solving, drawing on the process evaluation findings of the East Valley, California COMPASS. The findings confirm prior research of regional data-sharing difficulties, such as technological and database expertise and participation. Our study points to more fundamental limitations of regional data-sharing development for regional problem solving. Problems in many communities are simply local phenomena that may not be aided by a regional approach. Consequently, the development of a data system for regional problem solving ignores the specific nature of problems and the practical barriers inherent to accessing diverse databases. We agree that regional data sharing is important, but may be better tailored toward sharing data for short-term tactical purposes (e.g., pattern analysis) or for simply identifying problems, the first step in the problem-solving process, regionally.

Procedural Justice, Police Legitimacy, and Helping the Police Fight Crime: Results From a Survey of Jamaican Adolescents

Reisig, M. D., Lloyd, C. — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:52:29 PST

Drawing on procedural justice theory and research, this study uses survey data from a sample of Jamaican high school students (N = 289) to evaluate hypotheses derived from the process-based model of policing. Findings reveal that the correlation between procedural justice judgments and police legitimacy is positive and statistically significant. Students who rate police practices more favorably in terms of procedural justice also report a greater willingness to help the police fight crime (e.g., report suspicious activity to the police) in their community. In combination, the findings show that these two key process-based model hypotheses generalize to the Jamaican context. Although the correlation between police legitimacy and behavioral cooperation is in the expected direction, the relationship is not statistically significant. The findings also show that students from impoverished local communities dominated by "area dons" are less willing to help the police fight crime.

Reasons for Policewomen's Assertive and Passive Reactions to Sexual Harassment

Chaiyavej, S., Morash, M. — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:52:29 PST

To understand how constructive responses could be encouraged and supported, research was conducted to show the reasons for female police officers' responses to sexual harassment. A survey was administered in small groups to 117 female officers from 5 law enforcement agencies in a Midwestern state. For the 106 who had experienced harassment in the last 2 years, perceiving sexual harassing behavior as a violation of organizational policy predicted seeing harassing acts as severe, which in turn predicted assertive reactions. A de-emphasis on individuality and not participating in organizational decision making were predictive of high concern about social reactions, which then predicted the use of passive responses to harassment.

Shared Perceptions Among Lesbian and Gay Police Officers: Barriers and Opportunities in the Law Enforcement Work Environment

Colvin, R. — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:52:29 PST

Building on existing race- and sex-based research into the law enforcement workplace, this study examines differential treatment of lesbian and gay officers. A survey of 66 police officers revealed that lesbian and gay officers not only face barriers to equal employment opportunities similar to those faced by women and other minorities in law enforcement but also perceive some workplace benefits as lesbian or gay officers. The research suggests that police departments have made good strides in opening the law enforcement workforce but continue to face ongoing challenges in creating fair, diverse, and representative work environments for lesbian and gay officers. Policy implications as well as the organizational effects of both barriers and opportunities identified are discussed.

The Role of Race/Ethnicity and Race Relations on Public Opinion Related to the Treatment of Blacks by the Police

Gabbidon, S. L., Higgins, G. E. — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:52:29 PST

Previous research has identified strong effects of race on the evaluations of police performance. This research expands on past research by investigating public opinion related to Black treatment by the police. Recent Gallup poll data were examined to determine whether race and ethnicity influenced citizens' views on the treatment of Blacks in comparison to Whites by the police. In addition, the authors examined whether race relations affected citizens' views on the treatment of Blacks by the police. On both fronts, support was found for the influence of these factors. Demographic variables such as age, gender, education, employment status, region, and political ideology were also significantly related to public opinion regarding the perceived treatment of Blacks by the police. After contextualizing these results, the authors discuss the implication of the findings.