Betwixt and between: the perceived legitimacy of campus police

Abstract

Purpose -The literature on campus police (CP) is not as developed as mainstream or municipal police (MP). While there are several studies discussing the perception of CP, there are, however, no empirical studies investigating the perception of CP based on their legitimacy. Through the theoretical framework of liminality, this paper aims to address the literature gap by examining the perceived legitimacy of CP compared to MP. Design/methodology/approach -Data were collected through the use of survey instruments distributed among 593 college undergraduates at a doctoral extensive land grant institution in the Pacific Northwest. Since the purpose of the study was to determine student perceptions of legitimacy between MP and CP, two surveys were utilized to capture those perceptions, one for each police group respectively. The two sets of surveys were equally administered in each selected class. Findings -Through the framework of liminality, this research demonstrates the marginalization of CP as sworn law enforcement officers, especially when compared to their MP counterparts. Research limitations/implications -As this is the first study addressing the perceived legitimacy of the CP there needs to be further research in this area before substantial conclusions can be reached. Future research in this area should address the opinions of minority students, faculty and staff. Additionally, CP and MP officers themselves should be assessed to determine any potential legitimacy concerns based on perception. Originality/value -The theoretical framework reveals that the CP are trapped in a liminal state and are unable to transition into perceived legitimate police officers.

Policing the Ivory Tower: Students’ Perceptions of the Legitimacy of Campus Police Officers

“…Some of the similarities that have been discussed between the campus police and urban police, for instance, are that both types of officers resemble each other in demographic characteristics, particularly with regard to race and gender; they tend to exercise discretion in similar ways; and they perceive their primary role as being focused more on law enforcement than on public service (Sloan 1992). However, it has been acknowledged that campus policing is less dangerous than urban policing, as the types of crime that campus police officers encounter are not generally serious, but tend to involve drugs and alcohol, traffic violations, theft, vandalism, and assault (Miller and Pan 1987;Sloan 1992;Wada et al 2010). Scholars have also argued that as the size of the student body at colleges and universities increases, so too will campus crime, and the criminal activities on campuses will begin to resemble those of small cities more closely (Griffith et al 2004;Hummer, Austin, and Bumphus 1998;Wada et al 2010).…”

“…However, it has been acknowledged that campus policing is less dangerous than urban policing, as the types of crime that campus police officers encounter are not generally serious, but tend to involve drugs and alcohol, traffic violations, theft, vandalism, and assault (Miller and Pan 1987;Sloan 1992;Wada et al 2010). Scholars have also argued that as the size of the student body at colleges and universities increases, so too will campus crime, and the criminal activities on campuses will begin to resemble those of small cities more closely (Griffith et al 2004;Hummer, Austin, and Bumphus 1998;Wada et al 2010).…”

“…Such experiences can be as influential on individuals' perceptions and behaviors as personal encounters because they are "indirect and internalized by the actor," and may include: "observations of how the police treat others either in [1] public settings, (2) media reporting of incidents involving police officers (e.g., Rodney King, Abner Louima, Sean Bell), and (3) communications from others about their personal experiences" (Brunson and Weitzer 2011:428-429; see also Wada, Patten, and Candela 2010). Brunson and Weitzer (2011) were interested in determining how individuals vicariously experience and talk about the police, in addition to the impact that such communications then have on their conduct toward and cooperation with officers during personal encounters; all of which have received limited attention in the literature on police-citizen encounters.…”

“…This article began by reviewing recent work-generally conducted in urban settings-on citizens' perceptions of the police because empirical studies investigating the operations of the campus police have often compared those working in the college and university context to those working in urban settings (e.g., Sloan 1992;Sloan, Lanier, and Beer 2000;Wada et al 2010). Drawing on previous research, such a comparison raises questions as to whether procedural justice will play a more influential role than instrumental factors in college students' evaluations of the legitimacy Downloaded by [Michigan State University] at 08:00 01 April 2015 of campus police officers, just as it does when considering citizens' evaluations of police officers in the broader community context.…”

Guest editorial

“…Although the research focus is often on primary and secondary educational settings, there are equally complex issues of safety and policing on college campuses beginning with the creation of the first campus police department at Yale University in 1894 (Wada et al, 2010). While college campuses have had issues with criminal victimization of students and the need for security over the years, it would be the high profile school shooting events beginning in the 1990s that would shift the of role of policing in primary and secondary schools more toward law enforcement and security practices.…”