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Perceptions Of Police Abusive Behavior: Factors Influencing Citizens' Attitudes Toward The Police Use Of Excessive Force, Debra P. Laville-Wilson
Perceptions Of Police Abusive Behavior: Factors Influencing Citizens' Attitudes Toward The Police Use Of Excessive Force, Debra P. Laville-Wilson
Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations
This study analyzed several factors to determine their influence on the public's perceptions of the police use of excessive force or police brutality. Conflict theory and cognitive consistency theory were used to conceptualize the perceptions of police brutality. Based on these theories, five hypotheses were predicted. Secondary data from a 1995 National Opinion Survey of Crime and Justice were re-analyzed. The data provide 1,005 respondents for the analyses. Analyses were performed at the bivariate and multivariate level.
Findings from the bivariate analysis show that Blacks were three (3) times more likely than Whites to perceive the police use of excessive …