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Policing Minority Communities: How Perception of Engagement and Level of “Awareness” Influence Officer Attitudes toward Practice

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  • Toby Miles-Johnson

    (School of Justice, Queensland University of Technology, Level 5, X Block, Gardens Point, 2 George St, Brisbane 4001, Australia)

  • Suzanna Fay

    (School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, Michie Building 9, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, Australia)

  • Susann Wiedlitzka

    (School of Social Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand)

Abstract

In the 21st century, policing of all citizens requires officers to have an increased awareness of minority communities. Yet in the wake of public complaints and mass demonstrations regarding police misconduct, it is clear that police bias toward minority communities often negatively influences engagement. To better understand police awareness of minority communities and how officers’ levels of awareness and perceptions of policing influence their perceptions of engagement, data were collected from police recruits and protective service officers ( N = 1585) training at one of the largest police academies in Australia. The results show significant differences in awareness levels and perceptions of engagement of police recruits and protective service officers toward members of minority communities, as well as the factors influencing awareness during police–citizen engagement. These include the police recruit’s and protective service officer’s gender and sexuality, the frequency of socialization they have with diverse people, as well as the type of social interaction experienced. The results from this study offer suggestions to increase officers’ levels of awareness of minority communities, and how this may improve on-the-job performance overtime.

Suggested Citation

  • Toby Miles-Johnson & Suzanna Fay & Susann Wiedlitzka, 2021. "Policing Minority Communities: How Perception of Engagement and Level of “Awareness” Influence Officer Attitudes toward Practice," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:10:y:2021:i:2:p:70-:d:498017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dai, Mengyan & Frank, James & Sun, Ivan, 2011. "Procedural justice during police-citizen encounters: The effects of process-based policing on citizen compliance and demeanor," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 159-168, March.
    2. Weitzer, Ronald, 2000. "White, black, or blue cops? Race and citizen assessments of police officers," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 313-324.
    3. Dai, Mengyan & Frank, James & Sun, Ivan, 2011. "Procedural justice during police-citizen encounters: The effects of process-based policing on citizen compliance and demeanor," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 159-168.
    4. Paoline, Eugene A., 2003. "Taking stock: Toward a richer understanding of police culture," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 199-214.
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    1. Toby Miles-Johnson & Suzanna Fay, 2022. "“Being Diverse and Being Included, Don’t Go Together in Policing”—Diversity, Inclusion, and Australian Constables," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Toby Miles-Johnson & Kate Linklater, 2022. "‘Rorting the System’: Police Detectives, Diversity, and Workplace Advantage," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, April.

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