<p> This mixed methods study employed an instrumental single-bounded case approach to explore how a policing executive develops and sustains an ethically performing organization, given the phenomenological "<i>policing power-public trust</i>" relationship. Policing is foundational to rule of law and ethical performance in policing is fundamental to developing and sustaining a healthy policing power-public trust relationship. A review of relevant policing literature reveals a history of tension and conflict in this complex relationship. The literature review included relevant social <i>contract theory</i>, history of policing and the policing power-public trust relationship, relational leadership, servant leadership, transformational learning and leadership and change management. Organizational related literature included relevant aspects of organizational learning, performance, change and transformation. </p><p> Qualitative interviews were conducted with the policing executive and a quantitative survey instrument was pilot study validated and subsequently administered to the organization's sworn personnel. From qualitative and quantitative data collected, analyzed and integrated, 26 findings emerged. Further analysis of the findings resulted in four emergent themes. Results suggest that in a highly dynamic environment, a pragmatic role-modeling and holistic leadership strategy to drive ethical performance by leveraging a culture of accountability, best practice, and change readiness has potential external ecological application. In turn, ethical performance may generate public trust when an organization leverages innovative capacity to connect with its community through a robust strategy of active communication and transparency. </p><p> Although emergent findings or themes may have limited ecological application with similarly situated chiefs, organizations and communities, external generalizability is not foreseeable. Recommendations for future research include use of a multiple case study methodology to focus on one or more themes identified in this inquiry. A study could be undertaken to identify how leaders in organizations with relatively stable environments lead their respective organizations to perform ethically and build public trust. Given this organization's current success and expected future benefits from having developed and implemented a robust community engagement strategy, a study of similarly effective external communication strategies could be undertaken to identify the relative value and community impact.</p><p>

<p> Recent negatively publicized police-citizen interactions in the media, followed by a subsequent rise in crime rates in the United States, has been named the Ferguson Effect. The Ferguson Effect has been explored by prominent scholars in the criminal justice community; however, little is known about how police officers in small police agencies perceive the Ferguson Effect. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of police officers regarding the Ferguson Effect in small police agencies, as well as police officers&rsquo; perceptions of their own organizational justice. The theoretical framework for this study was Greenberg&rsquo;s theory of organizational justice. Research questions focused on exploring police officers&rsquo; perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of the Ferguson Effect phenomenon and willingness to partner with the community. A qualitative phenomenological study design was employed, using purposeful random sampling and semistructured interviews of 9 active sworn law enforcement personnel in southcentral Virginia. Data were analyzed through In Vivo coding, pattern coding, and structural analysis utilizing NVivo 11 Pro. Themes included: (a) racial division, (b) rush to judgment, and (c) steadfast leadership. Findings indicated participants demanded clear and fair policies and procedures from leadership, increased effort of transparency in policing, feelings of racial tension, and the need to regain community trust post-Ferguson. Implications for social change include refinement and development of leadership training for police leadership and refinement in organizational policies that support fairness, community engagement, and community interaction.</p><p>

<p> Federal correctional officers&rsquo; and licensed psychologists&rsquo; five personality traits were evaluated to see if there were any differences in their traits and how they perceived the following: mental illness in general, mentally ill inmates, and each other. There were 97 federal correctional officers and 45 licensed psychologists who participated in this study. Federal correctional officers and licensed psychologists were found to differ in their perceptions toward mental illness in general, mentally ill inmates, and each other. Federal correctional officers were found to perceive mental illness in general and mentally ill inmates more negatively than licensed psychologists. Federal correctional officers and licensed psychologists perceived each other in a negative light. Licensed psychologists were found to have significantly higher extraversion scores in comparison to federal correctional officers. Specific personality traits were found to be influential factors in the way federal correctional officers and licensed psychologists perceive mental illness and each other. In addition, the way federal correctional officers&rsquo; perceived mentally ill inmates were influenced by their traits while licensed psychologists&rsquo; traits did not.</p><p>

<p> Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in social interaction and social communication skills. High ASD prevalence rates have increased public concern about how persons diagnosed with the disorder will interact with others in their communities. Police officers routinely interact with people diagnosed with a variety of disabilities and mental illnesses. Current law enforcement training includes a broad focus on mental illness that may not be sufficient to prepare law enforcement officers to interact with persons diagnosed with ASD. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a privately-owned ASD training program developed for law enforcement officers. A total of 195 police officers participated in this study during 3 separate training events at 2 police departments in Southern California. Results showed a significant increase in participants&rsquo; knowledge of core ASD symptoms in 4 out of 6 program training modules. In addition, participants reported gains in the following domains: perceived confidence in interacting with persons with ASD, perceived practicality of providing accommodations for people diagnosed with ASD, and perceived relevance to participants&rsquo; work as police officers. The implications of these findings are discussed and recommendations are made regarding future presentations of the training and future areas of research.</p><p>

This thesis is an analysis of aspects of international narcotics law enforcement from 1949-1959.

There are numerous types of reentry programs available to inmates to help avoid the cycle of recidivism. There is little research on the impacts of reentry programs in jail populations. This current study sought to provide more research in this area by evaluating a local jail reentry program’s effect on recidivism. A quasi-experimental design was used to estimate the program’s effectiveness by comparing the recidivism statistics of inmates that have participated in the reentry program to a control group of inmates that did not. Inmates in the control group were matched according to their gender, age, race, and current offense type in efforts to mirror the type of inmates in the treatment group. Analyses indicated that inmates that completed the Correctional Career Pathways program had lower rates of recidivism when compared to the control group, but this difference was not great enough to be statistically significant.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / The focus of this study was to examine the controversial issue of racial profiling. This study examined the perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors of 112 police officers from four separate police departments. The study began with the premise that racial profiling was a widespread issue in law enforcement. It looked to identify attributes, similarities, and differences of contrasting police agencies that would explain why some groups engage in racial profiling and others do not. The research was also undertaken to determine what might mitigate racial profiling practices. This study examined the issue from three different positions. The first step was to determine whether police officers believed that racial profiling was problematic in their respective departments. The cohort overwhelmingly reported that they did not believe racial profiling was a serious problem. The second goal of the study was to determine if a department's organizational culture (attitudes, values, and behaviors) contributed to racial profiling attitudes and practices. This study found, through an examination of organizational commitment, that organizational culture did affect racial profiling practices. Police departments with more committed officers showed lower search disparity rates between minority and majority motorists. Finally, racial profiling attitudes and practices were examined controlling for training. Police departments where a majority of officers received racial profiling training showed lower search rate disparities between majority and minority motorists. They also showed higher levels of commitment to the organization. A statistical analysis found that training and Organizational Commitment were shown to have a statistically significant effect on racial profiling practices. Attitudes, however, appeared to be unaffected. Quantity of training appeared to be the critical factor; quality of training was not examined as a part of this research. Police departments that committed to department-wide training showed lower search rate disparities between minority and majority motorists. Further research is needed to identify the connection between training, organizational culture, and officers' individualized behavior.

A need for more transparency and accountability of police misconduct was obvious from citizen' complaints and media coverage of inhumane actions of law enforcement offers unequipped with body-worn cameras (BWCs). With the fatalities of citizens by law enforcement on the rise, it was incumbent upon the officials in two communities to deliver measures to improve citizens' perceptions of police officers' use of BWCs and how much trust the citizens have in the use of these instruments, as a whole. The purpose of this study was to explore citizens' confidence levels, sense of safety, and perception of civility when police officers use body cameras. The two research questions asked how has being made aware of the usage of BWCs by law enforcement impacted the perception of rural area citizens, and what is the perception of law enforcement officers' usage of BWCs among rural area citizens? The theoretical framework for this study was the self-awareness theory. Data were collected via interviews The data were collected and coded for analysis. Coded data were generated from responses in face to face interviews of participants. Themes were developed from key words in the context and word repetition. Seven main themes were created. The findings of the research show that the usage of body-worn cameras is wanted by citizens in small rural cities and the citizens have a positive perception of officers who utilize body-worn cameras. The results of the study have substantial implication for social change and suggest the people are calling for the use of BWC's by law enforcement officers to aid in increased transparency and trust in police officers on patrol. By carrying out this research, I was able to validate the perception of the citizens.

No description available.

Research submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Philosophy by coursework and Research in the facultiy of humanities / In the literature, the subject of racism has been approached by and large in a particular kind of way. In this paper, I aim to critically engage with standard racism discourse by doing two things. Firstly, I will be showing that the way racism is generally discussed is problematic both for the reasons that (a) its scope is limiting and (b) the way that the concept is used leaves out certain things that are important for what count or ought to count as racism. Secondly, I will be arguing that racism in its most basic form is the undervaluing, the devaluing, and not at all valuing someone else on account of their racial or racialized group. / MT 2020