Public Opinion

Abstract

Police executives today broadly agree that public support is important both for the legitimacy of the police and the ability of the police to fight crime effectively. While research shows people generally support the police and are satisfied with the way police perform their duties, it also demonstrates that not all segments of society hold equally positive opinions. Yet the determinants of public support are not fully understood. Although research has focused on the influence of personal contacts between the police and civilians or on neighborhood context, other influences remain unexplored. This research asks:

• Does police treatment of citizens impact broader public opinion of the police, as citizens impart these experiences to family, friends, and neighbors? • Is the media’s portrayal of the police an important determinant of public opinion of the police?

We addressed these questions by drawing on monthly “consumer satisfaction” surveys of people