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Suspicion Formation Among Police Officers: An International Literature Review

NCJ Number
242669
Journal
Criminal Justice Studies Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2013 Pages: 99-114
Author(s)
Richard R. Johnson; Mark A. Morgan
Date Published
March 2013
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This literature review examines the existing international research in psychology, sociology, and criminology on police officer development of suspicion.
Abstract
Recent research on racial profiling has renewed attention on how police officers develop suspicions about citizens, and how these suspicions influence the official behavior of police. In order to guide the current research, a review of the wealth of existing qualitative and quantitative research on this topic is necessary. This literature review examines the existing international research in psychology, sociology, and criminology on police officer development of suspicion. It also lays out a framework for organizing the findings with four broad methods of suspicion development: stereotypical perceptions about typical criminal offenders, prior knowledge about specific citizens; incongruent circumstances, and suspicious nonverbal cues. It concludes with the few studies linking officer suspicions to official police behavior. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.