Policing Minority Communities: How Perception of Engagement and Level of “Awareness” Influence Officer Attitudes toward Practice
In the 21st century, policing of all citizens requires officers to have an increased awareness of minority communities. Yet in the wake of public complaints and mass demonstrations regarding police misconduct, it is clear that police bias toward minority communities often negatively influences engag...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/10/2/70 |
| _version_ | 1797396858245480448 |
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| author | Toby Miles-Johnson Suzanna Fay Susann Wiedlitzka |
| author_facet | Toby Miles-Johnson Suzanna Fay Susann Wiedlitzka |
| author_sort | Toby Miles-Johnson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the 21st century, policing of all citizens requires officers to have an increased awareness of minority communities. Yet in the wake of public complaints and mass demonstrations regarding police misconduct, it is clear that police bias toward minority communities often negatively influences engagement. To better understand police awareness of minority communities and how officers’ levels of awareness and perceptions of policing influence their perceptions of engagement, data were collected from police recruits and protective service officers (<i>N</i> = 1585) training at one of the largest police academies in Australia. The results show significant differences in awareness levels and perceptions of engagement of police recruits and protective service officers toward members of minority communities, as well as the factors influencing awareness during police–citizen engagement. These include the police recruit’s and protective service officer’s gender and sexuality, the frequency of socialization they have with diverse people, as well as the type of social interaction experienced. The results from this study offer suggestions to increase officers’ levels of awareness of minority communities, and how this may improve on-the-job performance overtime. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:57:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ef15061ad8c460c9618d0e6cd3c679d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:57:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ef15061ad8c460c9618d0e6cd3c679d2023-12-11T16:49:30ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602021-02-011027010.3390/socsci10020070Policing Minority Communities: How Perception of Engagement and Level of “Awareness” Influence Officer Attitudes toward PracticeToby Miles-Johnson0Suzanna Fay1Susann Wiedlitzka2School of Justice, Queensland University of Technology, Level 5, X Block, Gardens Point, 2 George St, Brisbane 4001, AustraliaSchool of Social Science, The University of Queensland, Michie Building 9, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, AustraliaSchool of Social Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New ZealandIn the 21st century, policing of all citizens requires officers to have an increased awareness of minority communities. Yet in the wake of public complaints and mass demonstrations regarding police misconduct, it is clear that police bias toward minority communities often negatively influences engagement. To better understand police awareness of minority communities and how officers’ levels of awareness and perceptions of policing influence their perceptions of engagement, data were collected from police recruits and protective service officers (<i>N</i> = 1585) training at one of the largest police academies in Australia. The results show significant differences in awareness levels and perceptions of engagement of police recruits and protective service officers toward members of minority communities, as well as the factors influencing awareness during police–citizen engagement. These include the police recruit’s and protective service officer’s gender and sexuality, the frequency of socialization they have with diverse people, as well as the type of social interaction experienced. The results from this study offer suggestions to increase officers’ levels of awareness of minority communities, and how this may improve on-the-job performance overtime.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/10/2/70policepolicingrecruitsofficersdiversityminority |
| spellingShingle | Toby Miles-Johnson Suzanna Fay Susann Wiedlitzka Policing Minority Communities: How Perception of Engagement and Level of “Awareness” Influence Officer Attitudes toward Practice Social Sciences police policing recruits officers diversity minority |
| title | Policing Minority Communities: How Perception of Engagement and Level of “Awareness” Influence Officer Attitudes toward Practice |
| title_full | Policing Minority Communities: How Perception of Engagement and Level of “Awareness” Influence Officer Attitudes toward Practice |
| title_fullStr | Policing Minority Communities: How Perception of Engagement and Level of “Awareness” Influence Officer Attitudes toward Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Policing Minority Communities: How Perception of Engagement and Level of “Awareness” Influence Officer Attitudes toward Practice |
| title_short | Policing Minority Communities: How Perception of Engagement and Level of “Awareness” Influence Officer Attitudes toward Practice |
| title_sort | policing minority communities how perception of engagement and level of awareness influence officer attitudes toward practice |
| topic | police policing recruits officers diversity minority |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/10/2/70 |
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