Explaining Police Attitudes toward the Use of Force: The Case of Buenos Aires
The Politics of Policing: Between Force and Legitimacy
ISBN: 978-1-78635-030-5, eISBN: 978-1-78635-029-9
Publication date: 10 June 2016
Abstract
Purpose
In this study we set out to explain police support for the use of force, police response to a vignette about force, and police self-reported use of force.
Methodology/approach
The computer-assisted survey was conducted among 419 officers of the Metropolitana police department in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Findings
The regression analyses show that a substantial part of how officers view force, and the reported frequency of their own use of force, can be explained through demographic characteristics, organizational features, attitudes toward citizens, and personal experience.
Originality/value
This study was conducted in a region where excessive police use of force is unfortunately a continuing concern. Based on the results we advise police organizations to tackle this issue by investing in improving police attitudes toward both internal and external relations. We also recommend prohibiting officers to carry the regulatory gun while off duty, in order to reduce deaths of both civilians and officers.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgments
The author would like to thank the Niels Stensen Fellowship for sponsoring the research, and the VU University Amsterdam and the Gino Germani Research Institute for their institutional support. The collaborative efforts and expertise in this research of Prof. W. G. Skogan, Dr. Van Craen, and D. Fleitas, M.Sc., are also greatly appreciated.
Citation
Haas, N.E. (2016), "Explaining Police Attitudes toward the Use of Force: The Case of Buenos Aires", The Politics of Policing: Between Force and Legitimacy (Sociology of Crime, Law and Deviance, Vol. 21), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 133-152. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1521-613620160000021008
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited