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Perception of the Public and Legal Professionals Toward Police Officers

NCJ Number
92156
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (1983) Pages: 89-95
Author(s)
A D Yaimey; S Rashid
Date Published
1983
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This Canadian study (southern Ontario) examined the differential perceptions of the police held by the general public, senior citizens, probation officers, general practice lawyers, and the police themselves.
Abstract
Twenty persons from each of five subject groups participated in the study. The semantic differential technique was used to survey attitudes. Three bipolar scales represented evaluative perceptions. Three scales represented perceptions of police activity, three scales represented perceptions of police potency, and three scales represented subjective police understandability. The investigation suggests that police are favorably regarded by the general public, probation officers, and especially by the elderly. In contrast, lawyers hold negative perceptions of police. Specifically, they attach less value to police and rate the power of police significantly lower than most other subjects. The general public's positive evaluations of police were based on perceived understandability and activity and not their perceived power. Support for the assumption that police officers promote strong in-group solidarity was obtained. The police rated the police officer significantly more favorably than did lawyers, probation officers, and the public. Also, the police were more positive in their perceptions of fellow police than towards judges, prosecutors, and defense lawyers. Police positive evaluations of fellow officers were related to perceived activity rather than to potency or understandability. Tabular data and 14 references are provided.