Race, Expectations and Evaluations of Police Performance: An Empirical Assessment

The purpose of the current study is two‐fold. First, using data obtained from a sample of crime victims (n = 122), this study empirically assesses the effect that police officer race has on evaluations of the police. Second, this study provides a greater specification of the effect that expectations regarding police performance have on evaluations of the police. ANOVA and Ordered Probit analyses indicate that police officer race does not influence victim evaluations of police performance. However, expectations do significantly influence evaluations of the police and furthermore, expectations of police performance differ across racial lines. Possible explanations for these findings and directions for future research are offered

Meaningful and Effective Performance Evaluations in a Time of Community Policing

It is well recognized that the success of community-policing initiatives may be dependent on a variety of organizational changes, such as decentralization, increased officer autonomy and discretion, and permanent or stable geographic assignments. What is equally important, yet often overlooked, is the importance of a revised performance evaluation system that reflects the work to be performed in a community policing atmosphere. In a community policing context, performance evaluations do far more than simply evaluate police behavior; they serve as important vehicles for increasing awareness and understanding, conveying organizational expectations, and rewarding behavior concordant with a broadened police role (Oettmeier & Wycoff 1997). This manuscript suggests a step-by-step process for administrators interested in devising an evaluation system that will accomplish these goals

Philosophy into Practice? Community Policing Units and Domestic Violence Victim Participation

Much research has focused on the police response to domestic violence; however, relatively little research has considered performance differences of various types of police officers. Although there has been widespread adoption of community policing by police departments across the country, it is not conclusive as to whether units with a specific community policing philosophy perform better than traditional units when handling domestic violence calls. The current study addresses this issue by analyzing the factors associated with victim participation; specifically, do officers and detectives operating under a specific community policing mandate produce higher rates of victim participation? Bivariate and multivariate analyses indicate that victim participation rates did not differ by a community policing orientation; rather, situational factors exert the strongest effect on victim participation

The Effects of Expectancy Disconfirmation on Outcome Satisfaction in Police-Citizen Encounters

This study tests the expectancy disconfirmation model using survey data from citizens who recently had police encounters. We find support for the expectancy disconfirmation model\u27s primary hypothesis that increased disparity between expectations of police performance and actual service inversely affects citizen satisfaction with the way the police handle encounters. This finding persists for both voluntary (e.g. breaking and entering victims) and involuntary (e.g. traffic citations) police encounters. Our results also suggest that the scope of the expectancy disconfirmation model is limited. For example, the disparity between expectations and actual service is not correlated with citizen satisfaction with the police in general. Overall, the results show that the expectancy disconfirmation model is useful in that it provides conceptual guidance in an area of research that has been relatively void of theory, and can also help identify needed changes in police practices

The Importance of Expectation Fulfillment on Domestic Violence Victims’ Satisfaction with the Police in the UK

Purpose – This paper seeks to investigate what victims of domestic violence expect police to do for them, and how these expectations subsequently influence their levels of satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach – Structured interviews with 222 victims of domestic violence were conducted by staff from an integrated community-based service delivery agency in Cardiff, Wales. Multivariate analyses were performed to reveal the factors that contribute to domestic violence victims\u27 satisfaction with the police. Findings – Consistent with the expectancy disconfirmation model, results indicate that the most important determinant of satisfaction is the extent to which victims\u27 expectations about police behaviour and demeanour are fulfilled. Originality/value – The results of this study and implications for police policy are discusse

Crash Analysis and Coordination with LPAs

Vehicle-related crashes are one of the leading causes of injury and death in the United States. Come learn about how metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) partner with local communities to use crash analysis data to improve safety outcomes and operations for all road users and to demonstrate the benefits of transportation investments. Learn how two MPOs and a county analyze, communicate, and utilize crash information. Topics may include GIS/cartographic methods, connections to planning and funding, integrating crash analysis and corridor speed studies, integrating crash analysis with Complete Streets designs, and bike/pedestrian crash analysis

Evaluating Different Bridge Management Strategies Using The Bridge Management Research System (bmrs)

This project investigated the effects of varying two different elements of bridge management strategies. The first element was a trigger value (an NBI condition rating for a bridge component) at which a maintenance treatment can be performed. The second element was the budget. A new software program, the Bridge Management Research System (BMRS), was created to test these elements of bridge management strategies for Indiana\u27s bridge network. BMRS is a simplified version of a previous bridge management software package developed by Purdue University, the Indiana Bridge Management System (IBMS). To test variations in the trigger values, three different bridge management strategies were proposed: a standard maintenance strategy, an early maintenance strategy, and a late maintenance strategy. The standard maintenance strategy allows for maintenance for bridge components with condition ratings from 1 to 5, the early maintenance strategy allows for maintenance for components with condition ratings from 1 to 6, and the late maintenance strategy allows for maintenance for components with condition ratings from 1 to 4. To test variations in the budget for Indiana\u27s bridge network, three different budgets were used: a $150 million budget, a$200 million budget, and a $250 million budget. To evaluate each bridge management strategy, a distribution analysis, a threshold analysis, and a utility analysis were all performed. Distribution analysis looks at how many bridges are between two component condition ratings, threshold analysis looks at how many bridges have ratings greater than or equal to a given component condition rating, and utility analysis looks at how well each maintenance strategy meets certain criteria. After performing these analyses, this study found that, for any of the three budget levels, the standard maintenance strategy leads to better systemwide bridge performance than either the early or late maintenance strategies

Investigation of Low Cost Solar Drying of Apricots for Tajikistan

Dried apricots are one of Tajikistan’s major export products. The country wants to expand its production in the southern region. However, the producers don’t have the expertise needed to produce dried apricots that meet the quality requirements of the European Union and other potential export markets. Local producers in southern Tajikistan would benefit from improvements in methods of applying sulfur and drying the apricots. This would allow them to gain a share of global markets. Methods that were studied include sulfur treatment prior to drying and approaches for rapidly drying the apricots while preventing contamination. Because the project has just started, efforts are focused on developing the methods to determine the quality of apricots. Preliminary tests were conducted on dried apricots purchased from local stores or on fresh apricots dried by project personnel. These will serve as standards against which Tajikistan dried apricots will be compared. Quality factors evaluated included color, microbial content, sulfur content, water activity, percent soluble solids, and moisture content. This paper reports results of preliminary quality tests conducted on dried apricots purchased from stores in West Lafayette and Lafayette, Indiana. To prepare for future studies, thin layer drying tests were conducted on fresh apricots purchased from local stores and apricots grown in Michigan which were obtained from a contact in the Lafayette Farmer’s Market. These apricots were treated and dried in a thin layer dryer at three different temperatures to better understand factors that affect drying rate. Quality parameters of these dried apricots were also determined

Disentangling the Relationship Between Race and Attitudes Toward the Police: Police Contact, Perceptions of Safety, and Procedural Justice

Recent incidents involving police shootings of unarmed men of color have increased tensions between communities and police departments across the United States. In response, scholars have intensified efforts to understand the factors that shape attitudes toward the police. The current study examines individual and aggregate factors that influence satisfaction with the police. To this end, we address three research questions: (a) are there significant racial/ethnic differences in satisfaction with police; (b) do these differences persist after accounting for experiences with the police, perceptions of safety, and aggregate measures; and (c) can procedural justice help explain racial variation in attitudes toward the police? Study findings highlight the importance of perceptions of safety in explaining racial/ethnic variation in attitudes toward the police

The Physical Hazards of Police Work Revisited

This study examines the extent to which injuries to police officers have changed from 1996-1998 to 2006-2008. Data were obtained from injury reports filed by sworn officers of the Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Police Department. Results indicated that the frequency and rate (injury incidents per officer) of officer assaults, other suspect-related injuries, and accidents declined during the study period. While the specification of the reasons for these changes remains a topic for future research, the decline in assaults and suspect-related injuries may well be a function of the increased availability and more routine use of less lethal technology, enhanced training, and the more common use of protective equipment