Racial Differences in Attitudes toward the Police

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 61, Heft 4, S. 642-663

Abstract

Reports trend data on attitudes toward the police before & after celebrated incidents of police brutality. Employing 1977-1997 questionnaire data from polls conducted by the Los Angeles (CA) Times, which drew data from the locale of the brutality incidents, & from national data, 1973-1996, from various other sources -- eg, Gallup polls, the New York Times, & general social surveys -- it is found that public support for the police declines, often dramatically, following such an incident. This effect is stronger & of longer duration for African Americans & Latinos than for whites, reflecting persistent racial & ethnic disparities in perceptions of the police. For all groups, however, the level of support for the police eventually returns to its preincident level. 1 Appendix, 10 References. Modified AA