NCJ Number
35429
Date Published
1975
Length
10 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON A STUDY CONDUCTED AMONG GHETTO RESIDENTS IN A SMALL CALIFORNIA INDUSTRIAL CITY TO GAUGE POLICE ACCURACY IN PREDICTING RESIDENTS' HOSTILITY TOWARD POLICE.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN TO EXPLORE AN ADDITIONAL ASPECT OF THE OVERPERCEPTION OF HOSTILITY HYPOTHESIS WHICH ATTRIBUTES VIOLENT POLICE OVERREACTION TO RELATIVELY SLIGHT HOSTILE ACTS AND WHICH SUGGESTS THAT POLICE OVERPERCEPTION OF GHETTO HOSTILITY WILL AFFECT DAILY POLICE/CITIZEN ENCOUNTERS IN A DETRIMENTAL WAY. QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO 397 ADULT GHETTO RESIDENTS TO DETERMINE THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE AND TO POLICE OFFICERS TO PREDICT GHETTO RESIDENT RESPONSES AND GATHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THE RESPONDENTS' EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS. THE OFFICERS' PREDICTIONS WERE FOUND TO SIGNIFICANTLY OVERESTIMATE RESPONDENTS' HOSTILITY.