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1 – 10 of over 29000Carol A. Archbold, Daniel Lytle, Corneshia Weatherall, Ann Romero and Catherine Baumann
The purpose of this paper is to study lawsuits involving the police using newspaper accounts from three large cities in the USA.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study lawsuits involving the police using newspaper accounts from three large cities in the USA.
Design/methodology/approach
A content analysis was conducted using 634 newspaper articles from the New York Times, Chicago Sun‐Times, and the Los Angeles Times from 1993‐2003.
Findings
Research findings reveal how prevalent racial and gender discrimination issues are in lawsuits involving the police; some of the differences in lawsuits filed by police employees compared to those filed by citizens; the extent of disciplinary action taken against police officers named in lawsuits, and any organizational changes (i.e. department policies, procedures, or training) made as a result of lawsuits filed against police agencies.
Research limitations/implications
The findings from this study are based solely on what the newspapers chose to report. It may be the case that newspapers only report on extraordinary lawsuits involving the police, or lawsuits that result in moderate to large jury awards or settlements.
Practical implications
Since there is currently no national data collection effort focused on lawsuits filed against the police, researchers are left to use the data sources available to them (in this case, newspaper articles).
Originality/value
This paper presents the first study of lawsuits involving the police using newspaper accounts. Previous studies have used survey data, court records, and interviews.
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This study aims to assess the effects of commonly examined police stressors' on the members of a developing country's centralized police department: Turkish National Police (TNP).
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to assess the effects of commonly examined police stressors' on the members of a developing country's centralized police department: Turkish National Police (TNP).
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on a data collected through a self‐administered survey among the members of the TNP during the summer of 2005 (n=812). Using multivariate level OLS regression models, predicting effects of commonly examined police stressors on the participants' stress levels are analyzed. Findings are evaluated in comparison to existing literature about police stress.
Findings
This study indicates that organizational issues are the most important causes of stress in policing. Besides, it was found that several police stressors, as found for local police departments, might not be having the same effects for larger, centralized police departments.
Practical implications
Modern policing can be a less stressful job if the police organizations take necessary steps towards applying modern management techniques at both macro and micro levels. Demographic differences, danger at work, or workload should not be counted as predictors of stress in policing without a through consideration of organizational matters.
Originality/value
This is the first study empirically and systematically assessing the issue of stress among the members of the TNP. In addition, it is one of the rare studies published in English regarding the issue of police stress in a developing country.
To summarize and compare both the methodology and findings of existing studies of patrol officer workload that have contributed to what is known about “downtime” (time not…
Abstract
Purpose
To summarize and compare both the methodology and findings of existing studies of patrol officer workload that have contributed to what is known about “downtime” (time not responding to citizen calls for service), and provide more standardized estimates of downtime for comparison purposes.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 11 studies of police workload published between 1970 and 2001 that used data collected through either dispatch records or systematic social observations of police officers, and reported information regarding the amount and use of patrol officer downtime, are summarized and compared. The studies report information for 13 different (US) police departments and averages for the 24 departments studied in the Police Services Study (1977). A consistent measure of downtime is estimated for each study.
Findings
A consistent measure of downtime estimated for each study yields more similar results across studies than the originally reported findings suggest. For the studies that used data collected through dispatch records, the average amount of downtime is 70 percent of a patrol officer's shift, for the studies that used systematic social observation data 79 percent. Observations regarding the methodologies and contributions of workload studies are discussed.
Research limitations/implications
Suggested changes in the reporting of future workload study findings would provide more accurate information and facilitate comparisons across studies, benefiting both researchers and police administrators.
Practical implications
These findings suggest patrol officers always have had, and continue to have, a lot of downtime available for restructuring.
Originality/value
Compiles, organizes, and compares information regarding what is known about the amount and use of patrol officer downtime, and suggests researchers and administrators consider approaching the study and use of downtime in new ways.
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Dominique Boels and Antoinette Verhage
The purpose of this paper is to report on the systematic review on the topic of plural policing. The authors aim to discuss the general characteristics of empirical research into…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report on the systematic review on the topic of plural policing. The authors aim to discuss the general characteristics of empirical research into plural policing and describe the way in which police literature deals with the questions related to plural policing.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic review, including qualitative research, focused on empirical research results.
Findings
First of all, plural policing has been subject of study in a diversity of contexts, using multiple methods and treating very diverse research questions. Although the dangers of blurring boundaries between policing actors is a focal issue in contemplative papers, empirical research on plural policing does not focus on this issue but mentions it in the margins of the research results.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations are that the authors had to set a timeframe for the systematic review and that not all research was accessible. Furthermore, the authors had to limit the studies that could be included in this systematic review.
Social implications
One of the main research questions relates to the dangers of blurring boundaries between multiple policing actors. This has important implications for citizens in their relations and contacts with police actors (in terms of transparency, equality of rights and so on).
Originality/value
The paper gives a first insight into a domain that is written on extensively, but less empirically studied and sheds light on the studies that have taken the topic of plural policing as the focal point.
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Monika Agrawal and Ritika Mahajan
Using conservation of resources (COR) theory the study investigates the interrelationships between optimism, bidirectional work-family conflict, enrichment, and psychological…
Abstract
Purpose
Using conservation of resources (COR) theory the study investigates the interrelationships between optimism, bidirectional work-family conflict, enrichment, and psychological health.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were gathered from 356 Indian police officers using a survey questionnaire and purposive sampling technique.
Findings
The results inform that optimism mitigates family to work conflict (FWC) and fosters work to family enrichment (WFE), family to work enrichment (FEW), and psychological health in the police. The results further suggest optimism influences psychological health via WFE (partial mediation). However, FWC and FEW do not influence mental health.
Research limitations/implications
The study was conducted in a specific culture and context (Rajasthan police), so results cannot be generalized. The study discusses the practical implications for police practitioners.
Originality/value
The study adds to work-family literature by considering personal differences that have received less space in work-family models. To the best of authors' knowledge, none of the previous studies have considered optimism, the work-family interface and psychological health in the police.
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Bitna Kim, Arizona Wan-Chun Lin and Eric Lambert
Little information on dissemination of publications on policing issues in East Asia in which one-fifth of the world's population lives is available. The research questions for the…
Abstract
Purpose
Little information on dissemination of publications on policing issues in East Asia in which one-fifth of the world's population lives is available. The research questions for the paper are: how extensive is the coverage of papers focussing on policing in East Asia; on which East Asian countries have the papers covered during the 14-year period from 2000 to 2013; what are the topics/primary issues of policing in East Asia covered across the journals; and what are the affiliations represented of authors who have published papers on policing in East Asia. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is a content analysis of major policing specialty journals listed in the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) in terms of the number and focus of studies on East Asian police papers. Data came from 1,123 papers published in three policing journals of Police Quarterly, Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, and Policing and Society: An International Journal of Research and Policy during the period of 2000-2013.
Findings
Only 3.4 percent (n=38) of the 1,123 articles published in the three journals were on policing issues in East Asia nations. The vast majority (76.3 percent) were published in Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management. Staff issue was the most frequently researched topic. In total, 42 percent of the papers were on South Korean policing issues, followed by 31 percent on Chinese policing topics. Finally, about 45 percent of the papers were written by only US-affiliated authors, 40 percent by authors affiliated with institutions in East Asia, and only 16 percent were written in collaboration between authors associated with USA and East Asian institutions.
Originality/value
The main intent of this study is to provide information seekers with a guide to what research on policing in East Asia is being published.
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Keywords
Michael K. Dzordzormenyoh, Claudia Dzordzormenyoh and Jerry Dogbey-Gakpetor
The COVID-19 pandemic provides researchers and practitioners with an opportunity to examine the effect of emergency policing on public trust in the police and augment our…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic provides researchers and practitioners with an opportunity to examine the effect of emergency policing on public trust in the police and augment our understanding. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to examine the effect of police enforcement of COVID-19 health measures on public trust in the police in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
A multivariate binary logistic regression was utilized to assess the effect of police enforcement of COVID-19 health measures on public trust in the police in Ghana using national representative data.
Findings
Our analysis suggests that emergency policing positively influences public trust in the police in Ghana. Additionally, we observed that police-related issues such as corruption and professionalism, as well as demographic factors of the public, influence trust in the police. These observations are helpful for emergency policing and policy development in Ghana.
Originality/value
This study is unique because it uses national representative data to assess the effect of police enforcement of COVID-19 health measures on public trust in the police in Ghana. Furthermore, this study is among the first or among the few from Ghana and the sub-region to examine the nexus between health emergencies and policing.
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Stewart Selase Hevi, Ebenezer Malcalm, Gifty Enyonam Ketemepi, Akorfa Wuttor and Clemence Dupey Agbenorxevi
This paper aims to investigate the effect of perception of police use of surveillance cameras (POP-S), perception of police legitimacy (POP-L) and community well-being. The study…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the effect of perception of police use of surveillance cameras (POP-S), perception of police legitimacy (POP-L) and community well-being. The study further explores the mediating effect of procedural justice between POP-S and police legitimacy.
Design/methodology/approach
A convenience sampling technique was used in the selection of 388 participants, who answered questions relating to police use of surveillance cameras, legitimacy, procedural justice and community well-being. Structural equation modeling was used to test the effects of the hypothesized paths.
Findings
The findings showed that POP-L was positively related to community well-being. In addition, procedural fairness partially mediates between POP-S and police legitimacy.
Research limitations/implications
The study sample was limited to only motorists within the city of Accra. Hence, the study does not consider other potential offenses that may be uncovered by police-deployed surveillance cameras.
Practical implications
The study optimizes the relevance of technology use in contemporary policing for the elimination of road traffic carnage.
Originality/value
In this research, the academic scope of technology-based policing was scholarly advanced by drawing links between police use of surveillance cameras, police legitimacy, procedural justice and community well-being within the context of emerging economies.
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Chang‐Hun Lee, Jung‐Mi Kim and Jong‐Gil Kim
The aim of the current study is three‐fold: it aims to empirically investigates the relationship between officers' perceptions on organizational structure and preventive policing…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the current study is three‐fold: it aims to empirically investigates the relationship between officers' perceptions on organizational structure and preventive policing practices (PPP) in the South Korean context; it attempts to find what aspects of organizational characteristics will be influential in police officers' day‐to‐day activities;, utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM), it aims to identitify the complex networks of influences among various organizational aspects.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study utilizes data collected from two different samples: a total of 146 randomly selected police officers in a metropolitan police agency, and 60 police officers who were attending a community policing training course. Overall response rate was 73.6 percent. The organizational characteristics investigated include strategic direction, decentralization of authority, system flexibility, reward system, and open‐system feedback mechanism.
Findings
The results of SEM indicate that officers' perceptions on organizational structure (except open‐system feedback mechanism) of Korean police agency do not influence an individual police officer's preventive policing activity. The study found a significant relationship between officers' perceptions on open‐system structure and preventive policing practice. Finally, the study also identified a complex network of organizational traits on preventive policing: strategic direction influences all other organizational factors; system flexibility is a prerequisite for the open system; and decentralization of authority influences the open system structure.
Research limitations/implications
Although this study uniquely utilized organizational factors measured at the individual level, one may criticize the lack of a more direct organizational measure, such as organizational size, age, task scope, or number of ranks. Future study on this topic will benefit from employing both direct and indirect organizational measures.
Originality/value
The current study enhances the understanding of individual perception of organizational characteristics on police officers' day‐to‐day preventive policing activities.
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Nicholas Andrew Salimbene and Yan Zhang
The primary objective of the current study is to examine the impact that the size of a police department and workload on a department have on response time. Secondarily, the…
Abstract
Purpose
The primary objective of the current study is to examine the impact that the size of a police department and workload on a department have on response time. Secondarily, the authors look at the effect that incident-level factors such as the severity of a call for service (CFS) and community-level factors such as ethnic diversity have on police response time.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study examined CFSs data collected over a three-year period and organizational information from 26 police departments in Northeast Texas, as well as community-level information. In order to measure the effect of organizational variables, community factors and incident-level variables on police response time, the authors employed the use of hierarchical linear models (HLMs).
Findings
The results of hierarchical linear modeling indicated that incident-level factors and police department size are significant predictors of response time.
Research limitations/implications
There are two primary limitations: first, there were a lack of available organizational structure correlates such as age and differentiation. Second, the primary data set had a significant number of incomplete or repeating cases, thereby limiting the accuracy of the current study’s analysis.
Originality/value
The most unique aspect of this manuscript is that it examines how organizational factors affect police response time. Numerous studies analyzed determinants of police response time such as incident- and community-level factors, but the importance of organizational factors has not been analyzed.
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