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Police-Public Interaction: Activation, Response, and Interpersonal and Situational Variables

NCJ Number
114336
Journal
Revista CENIPEC Volume: 8 Dated: (1983) Pages: 33-72
Author(s)
L G Gabaldon; M Murua
Date Published
1984
Length
39 pages
Annotation
Starting from the premises that the police use a system of selection in the cases which they process, both at the level of detection and that of further inquiry, and that there are personal and situational variables which determine different police responses, this research involved direct observation of a Police Force in a medium-sized Venezuelan city, during 18 days of day and night shifts in the late 1983.
Abstract
An analysis of the police measures used in dealing with different cases indicates a desire to assert authority rather than continue inquires in order to clarify the facts. The most assertive and best dressed complainants are best attended to, while collaborative and well dress suspects tend to be better treated than those who are badly dressed or resist authority. The greater the number of police personnel that intervene in a given situation, the greater the probability that violence will be used against the suspect. If the suspect explicitly opposes the measure which is initially applied, his position tends to become much weaker. 15 references. For English summary of this article, see NCJ 114062. (Author abstract)

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