Improving police effectiveness in ensuring justice

PurposeThis study seeks to answer (1) how perceived neighborhood collective efficacy and disorder affect residents' cooperation with the police, both directly and indirectly through perceptions of the police and (2) how Arab American ethnicity moderates the linkages between perceived collective efficacy, disorder and cooperation.Design/methodology/approachRelying on survey interview data from a probability sample of 414 residents in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, MI and path model analysis, this study tests an explanatory model of public cooperation with the police that integrates both neighborhood and policing factors.FindingsPerceived neighborhood disorder undermines residents' desires to cooperate, and this influence is chiefly direct. Meanwhile, although no significant total effect, perception of neighborhood collective efficacy does have a positive effect on cooperation through the mediator of positive assessment of police effectiveness. Further, collective efficacy has a direct, positive effect on cooperation among Arab Americans only. Finally, perceptions of police equal treatment and effectiveness, rather than procedural justice, are significant correlates of public cooperation.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the extremely limited literature on policing and Arab American communities. The findings can deepen the understanding on why and for which groups neighborhood context is related to cooperation with the police. Findings can also add to the knowledge base for designing policies and practices that help secure and promote public support and cooperation in both Arab and non-Arab communities.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cooperation with the police: a path analysis of residents in two Arab American-concentrated cities

Camero

Cano-Rodriguez

Chawota

et al. 2023

“…Attitudes and perceptions of law enforcement are part of the overall legal socialization process that is impacted by a multitude of factors, only some of which have to do with direct or indirect experiences with the police. The potential consequences of perceptions of police bias are numerous and include the potential for systematic differences in the willingness to cooperate with police, including reporting their own and others' victimization to the authorities (Braga and MacDonald, 2019). Indeed, we uncovered some evidence to this effect given the systematic differences in ratings of police bias across persons who had and had not experienced victimization.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Programs that involve partnerships with communities (e.g., community policing), increase positive citizen contacts (e.g., citizen police academy) and reduce negative contacts (e.g., avoid overly aggressive enforcement) should be developed and sustained. Braga and MacDonald (2019) outlined the state of research on the relationship between race and targeted policing activities and suggested that "Community policing should be the foundation of any police-led violence reduction strategy" (p. 547), even though this practice often fails to reduce crime in communities in and of itself. Rather, community policing strategies can be viewed as a means to better communicate policing practices in local communities and engender support and cooperation to engage in targeted enforcement strategies that focus on violence and associated behaviors that both the police and community identify as worthy targets.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does racial discrimination matter: explaining perceived police bias across four racial/ethnic groups

Yuan

Wu²,

Melde³

2022

PurposeThis study uses a diverse sample of residents living in Northern California to study factors that are associated with public perceptions of police bias. The authors also investigate whether perceptions of racial discrimination mediate the relationships between race/ethnicity and perceptions of police bias.Design/methodology/approachThe sampling frame of the study was constructed through two stages. First, the frame included 212 census tracts in the study setting that comprise the study population. The authors stratified the census tracts by using demographic information from the most recent American Community Survey. The authors also used a multi-mode address-based design in which a household adult was invited through mail to participate in a web-based survey.FindingsThe authors found that racial/ethnic minorities (i.e. Latino, African American and Asian respondents) were more likely to experience racism and report police as biased than White residents. Racial and ethnic disparities in assessments of police bias, however, disappeared when controlling for direct and indirect experiences of racism, suggesting that experiences with racism are key factors explaining variations in perception of police bias across racial/ethnic groups.Research limitations/implicationsThe generalizability of the findings is unclear. Future research should focus on multiple cities to advance the understanding of perceptions of police bias. Second, the measures of direct and indirect experiences with racism do not identify the source of the problematic encounters, and thus the authors are unaware of the experiences respondents had with police officers.Practical implicationsThis paper includes the implications for the perceptions of police bias and how to improve police-citizen interactions.Social implicationsThis paper will facilitate ongoing debate on police-citizens interactions. Specifically, how experiences of racism can improve the understanding of bias toward the police.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills an research need to study perceptions of police bias among diverse immigrant populations.

“…, 2010). Relatedly, police can connect with victim service providers to build trust between victims and police and provide resources to victims after they have been identified (Braga and MacDonald, 2019; Farrell et al. , 2019a).…”

Section: Human Trafficking Cases and The Importance Of Policementioning

confidence: 99%

“…trauma, immigration, service providers), collecting and reporting data on identified trafficking cases, and integrating human trafficking responses as part of regular crime-control activities (Farrell et al, 2010). Relatedly, police can connect with victim service providers to build trust between victims and police and provide resources to victims after they have been identified (Braga and MacDonald, 2019;Farrell et al, 2019a). In other words, how police approach trafficking offenses can have real-world consequences for who is identified, whether they receive the services they need, and whether traffickers can continue exploiting others.…”

Section: Human Trafficking Cases and The Importance Of Policementioning

confidence: 99%

Human trafficking awareness and reporting: insights from Tennessee police websites and Twitter

Stickle

Kulig

Creel

et al. 2022

PurposeHuman trafficking is challenging to address; one facet of response has been to engage with the public to increase awareness of trafficking and create connections that facilitate identification. Police officials are uniquely situated to engage with the community on human trafficking through their online presence. However, little is known about how police officials use these virtual platforms to discuss trafficking.Design/methodology/approachThe current study examines how Tennessee police use agency websites and Twitter to connect with their community on the issue of human trafficking.FindingsOut of 241 police agencies studied in Tennessee, 80% (n = 192) had websites, while 35% (n = 84) had Twitter accounts. Findings suggest that Tennessee agencies are not currently using websites (1%) or Twitter (4.7%) to engage with the public about human trafficking. Further, when it did occur, the communication to the public was limited in depth and resources.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research should include other police agencies and additional social media sites.Practical implicationsPolice agencies could be more proactive at engaging the community, with the caveat that any future initiatives should have clear goals and monitor their effectiveness at achieving their intended outcomes.Originality/valueThis research provides a fundamental analysis of how police agencies communicate to the public on issues related to human trafficking.