NCJ Number
134410
Journal
American Journal of Police Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (1990) Pages: 41-61
Date Published
1990
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Data from two surveys of 281 U.S. cities, conducted in 1984 and 1987 to determine rates of minority police officer employment, were used to determine economic, institutional, and political factors that affect such employment. In this survey, economic variables included the percentage change in the number of officer positions between 1984 and 1987 and a subjective measure of departmental budgetary circumstances; institutional variables included measures of affirmative action policies, the influence of collective bargaining units, and the existence of a minority police chief; and political factors included the percentage of minority city councilmen and the existence of a minority mayor.
Abstract
The findings showed that, while many factors play a significant role in predicting employment of minorities, specially blacks and Hispanics, as municipal police officers, the best predictors are percentage of minorities in the city's population, minority representation in public offices, and court-enforced affirmative action programs. Given the current shift away from Federal court and administrative advocacy of affirmative action goals, the attainment of further progress toward minority employment will depend on efficacious political organization by minorities at the local level. 11 notes, 2 tables, and 38 references