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Identifying variation in police officer behavior between juveniles and adults

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  • Brown, Robert A.
  • Novak, Kenneth J.
  • Frank, James

Abstract

This research explores the basis of officer decision making during encounters with juvenile suspects, and compares these encounters to those between police and adults. Specifically, two types of officer behavior are examined: the decision to arrest, and the exercise of authority. Officer behavior during encounters with juvenile suspects is compared and contrasted to encounters with adult suspects. Results from multivariate analyses find juveniles are significantly more likely to be arrested than adults; however, officers do not exercise different levels of authority during interactions with juvenile suspects. Results also indicate that the factors shaping officer behavior varies across age of suspect, namely, the community context and officer's race offer significantly different influences on juveniles than on adults. Other factors also influence officer discretion differently depending on the age of the suspect, most noteworthy being disrespectful demeanor. The results indicate that police officer behavior during encounters with juvenile suspects is very different than during encounters with adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Brown, Robert A. & Novak, Kenneth J. & Frank, James, 2009. "Identifying variation in police officer behavior between juveniles and adults," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 200-208, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:37:y::i:2:p:200-208
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hurst, Yolander G. & Frank, James, 2000. "How kids view cops The nature of juvenile attitudes toward the police," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 189-202.
    2. Bannister, Andra J. & Carter, David L. & Schafer, Joseph, 2001. "A national police survey on the use of juvenile curfews," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 233-240.
    3. Darrell Steffensmeier & Chester L. Britt, 2001. "Judges' Race and Judicial Decision Making: Do Black Judges Sentence Differently?," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 82(4), pages 749-764, December.
    4. Riksheim, Eric C. & Chermak, Steven M., 1993. "Causes of police behavior revisited," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 21(4), pages 353-382.
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    2. Das, Aniruddha, 2022. "Childhood police encounters, social isolation and epigenetic age acceleration among older U.S. adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    3. Soderstrom, Melanie F.P., 2024. "Formalizing and expanding school resource officer presence: Examining the influence on student arrests," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
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    5. Pietenpol, Annelise M. & Morgan, Mark Alden & Wright, John Paul & Almosaed, Nora F. & Moghrabi, Sameera S. & Bashatah, Fawzia S., 2018. "The enforcement of crime and virtue: Predictors of police and Mutaween encounters in a Saudi Arabian sample of youth," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 110-121.

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