Policing community problems: Exploring the role of formal social control in shaping collective efficacy

Research finds police-led crime control interventions focusing on places and involving partnerships tend to yield positive crime control outcomes. Some scholars argue that these positive outcomes are achieved when police use place-based, partnership-oriented interventions to facilitate and encourage collective efficacy (CE), the corollary being that these CE-enhancing efforts lead to less crime. Nevertheless, differentiating the police activities that impact CE across different types of communities is not well understood. This paper examines the role of police in shaping CE in two contrasting communities. Using in-depth interviews with residents and key informants we find that police are most likely to enhance CE when they foster a sense of effectiveness, use inclusive and partnership-oriented strategies and when they implement strategies in a manner that encourages perceptions of police legitimacy. Moreover, if police can maintain or cultivate a sense of empowerment among community residents, they are more likely to foster CE. Yet the role of police in enhancing CE is different in different community types. We discuss the implications of these findings for policy and practice

The foundations of defiance: examining the psychological underpinnings of ethnic minority defiance toward police

Defiance can be a powerful mechanism of protest against police oppression. At the same time, citizen defiance to police authority is problematic for police and can cause injury to both police officers and the public. Research shows that some groups of people defy police more than others, and that defiance often represents a reaction to disenfranchisement, police bias and unfair treatment. For example, the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted that Black, First Nations peoples and racial/ethnic minority groups are more likely to experience problematic relationships with the police. This study focuses on understanding the factors that drive defiance toward police within two ethnic minority communities in Australia. Testing a new theoretical model, we find that procedural injustice from police can create identity threats, thus explaining why some ethnic minority individuals choose to defy the police. Alternatively, procedural justice may reduce identity threats and defiance

Legitimacy in policing: a systematic review

Police require voluntary cooperation from the general public to be effective in controlling crime and maintaining order. Research shows that citizens are more likely to comply and cooperate with police and obey the law when they view the police as legitimate. The most common pathway that the police use to increase citizen perceptions of legitimacy is through the use of procedural justice. Procedural justice, as described in the literature, comprises four essential components. These components are citizen participation in the proceedings prior to an authority reaching a decision (or voice), perceived neutrality of the authority in making the decision, whether or not the authority showed dignity and respect toward citizens throughout the interaction, and whether or not the authority conveyed trustworthy motives. Police departments throughout the world are implicitly and explicitly weaving the dialogue of these four principles of procedural justice (treating people with dignity and respect, giving citizens “voice” during encounters, being neutral in decision making, and conveying trustworthy motives) into their operational policing programs and interventions. This review synthesizes published and unpublished empirical evidence on the impact of interventions led by the public police to enhance citizen perceptions of police legitimacy. Our objective is to provide a systematic review of the direct and indirect benefits of policing approaches that foster legitimacy in policing that either report an explicit statement that the intervention sought to increase legitimacy or report that there was an application of at least one of the principles of procedural justice: participation, neutrality, dignity/respect, and trustworthy motives

Observational Study Design in Veterinary Pathology, Part 1: Study Design

Observational studies are the basis for much of our knowledge of veterinary pathology and are highly relevant to the daily practice of pathology. However, recommendations for conducting pathology-based observational studies are not readily available. In part 1 of this series, we offer advice on planning and conducting an observational study with examples from the veterinary pathology literature. Investigators should recognize the importance of creativity, insight, and innovation in devising studies that solve problems and fill important gaps in knowledge. Studies should focus on specific and testable hypotheses, questions, or objectives. The methodology is developed to support these goals. We consider the merits and limitations of different types of analytic and descriptive studies, as well as of prospective vs retrospective enrollment. Investigators should define clear inclusion and exclusion criteria and select adequate numbers of study subjects, including careful selection of the most appropriate controls. Studies of causality must consider the temporal relationships between variables and the advantages of measuring incident cases rather than prevalent cases. Investigators must consider unique aspects of studies based on archived laboratory case material and take particular care to consider and mitigate the potential for selection bias and information bias. We close by discussing approaches to adding value and impact to observational studies. Part 2 of the series focuses on methodology and validation of methods

Keeping it in the family: Parental influences on young people's attitudes to police

Prior research finds young people are less satisfied with police than their older counterparts. Despite this, our understanding of youth attitudes to police is limited, as most research has focused on adult attitudes to police. This study adds to our understanding by examining the influence of parent–child dynamics on youth attitudes to police. We predict that youth attitudes to police will be influenced by their parents’ attitudes. A survey of 540 school students in South East Queensland reveals that perceived parental attitudes to police are associated with youth attitudes to police. However, this effect is partially mediated by maternal, but not paternal attachment. These findings suggest that youth attitudes to police are not simply influenced by contact with police and delinquency, but that familial context is important. Consequently, our theoretical understanding of youth attitudes to police must move beyond a focus upon police contact and delinquency

Policing and collective efficacy: the relative importance of police effectiveness, procedural justice and the obligation to obey police

The role of police in building collective efficacy remains an unanswered question. This paper employs a sample of 4403 people living in 148 neighbourhoods in Brisbane, Australia, to examine the relationship between perceptions of police and collective efficacy. Results indicate that even when controlling for neighbourhood compositional and structural characteristics, trust in police effectiveness and procedural justice are the key variables explaining collective efficacy. Although trust in police effectiveness and procedural justice do not predict neighbourhood differences in collective efficacy, they do explain variations in perceptions of collective efficacy among those residents in a given neighbourhood. These findings reveal that when people trust the police are effective and procedurally just, they are more likely to view their neighbourhoods as collectively efficacious. This research suggests that police can help to encourage collective efficacy, and potentially reduce crime, by communicating their effectiveness and delivering procedural justice to citizens

Legitimacy policing's impact on crime and disorder in communities and places: A systematic review [Title registration for a review proposal]

BACKGROUND Briefly describe and define the problem The extant criminological literature clearly shows that building police legitimacy in communities and places is important for increasing citizen levels of compliance, cooperation and satisfaction (see Jackson, Bradford, Stanko, & Hohl, 2012). A growing body of research indicates that when police are viewed as respectful, concerned, and possessing legitimate authority, citizens are more likely to hold favourable attitudes toward police and comply with the law. Increasing the perceptions of police legitimacy within the community may both reduce community levels of crime and increase the willingness of the community to control and prevent crime (Sunshine & Tyler, 2003; Tyler & Fagan, 2008). When police are perceived as legitimate, citizens feel an obligation to voluntarily comply with their directives, and it is suggested that the indirect effects include a reduction in crime, reoffending and social disorder (Mazerolle, Bennett, Davis, Sargeant, & Manning, 2013). Our proposed review aims to assess whether or not interventions aimed at promoting police legitimacy reduce the levels of crime and disorder in communities and places..

Title registration for a review proposal: Legitimacy policing’s impact on crime and disorder in communities and places

BACKGROUND\ud \ud Briefly describe and define the problem\ud \ud The extant criminological literature clearly shows that building police legitimacy in communities and places is important for increasing citizen levels of compliance, cooperation and satisfaction (see Jackson, Bradford, Stanko, & Hohl, 2012). A growing body of research indicates that when police are viewed as respectful, concerned, and possessing legitimate authority, citizens are more likely to hold favourable attitudes toward police and comply with the law. Increasing the perceptions of police legitimacy within the community may both reduce community levels of crime and increase the willingness of the community to control and prevent crime (Sunshine & Tyler, 2003; Tyler & Fagan, 2008). When police are perceived as legitimate, citizens feel an obligation to voluntarily comply with their directives, and it is suggested that the indirect effects include a reduction in crime, reoffending and social disorder (Mazerolle, Bennett, Davis, Sargeant, & Manning, 2013). Our proposed review aims to assess whether or not interventions aimed at promoting police legitimacy reduce the levels of crime and disorder in communities and places..