Racial and ethnic disparities in youth perceptions of police in the community and school: considering the effects of multilevel factors

Abstract

Purpose

Recent publicized incidents involving police and youth, particularly minorities, may undermine attitudes toward police. This research examines the effect of race/ethnicity on youth attitudes toward police in two contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes survey data from 17,000 youth in California aggregated with data on poverty and crime. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) is used to examine the effects of individual and structural factors on perceptions of the police in the community and in school.

Findings

Race/ethnicity is related to perceptions of police in both contexts even after accounting for structural factors, with Blacks and Hispanics having less positive perceptions than Whites and Asians. Differences in perceptions between racial/ethnic groups were larger for police in the community than school police. Structural factors were associated with perceptions of police in the community but not at school.

Originality/value

This study differs from much of the previous literature examining race and attitudes toward police, which has largely focused on adults. The current study examines youth attitudes toward the police in two separate contexts and considers the influence of structural factors.

Citation

Zhang, G., Nakamoto, J. and Cerna, R. (2020), "Racial and ethnic disparities in youth perceptions of police in the community and school: considering the effects of multilevel factors", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 43 No. 5, pp. 831-844. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-05-2020-0075