This study examined the impact of four categories of variables (demographics, neighborhood context variables, contact with the police, and vicarious influence variables) on juvenile perceptions of the police and police services. Data analyzed in this study were collected as part of a larger research evaluation that examined the impact of law enforcement efforts in relation to violent crime. Students from one middle school were surveyed. Statistical analysis consisted of a series of One-Way ANOVA tests and several ordinary least squares regression (OLS) models. The study found significant results for both dependent variables within all four categories of independent variables. Policy implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Although police generally exercise wide discretionary powers across most of their duties, it is with respect to young people that these powers are the most extensive. Both sociological and psychological factors influence the use of police discretionary powers. There are said to be strong relationships between authoritarianism, for example, and justice outcomes. Other measures, such as cynicism and punitiveness, have been observed to be influential predictors of police behaviour. Extending the work on jury decision-making, along with other police research, the present research examines use of police discretionary powers with young offenders. Sworn police officers from two jurisdictions, New Zealand and New South Wales, responded to written surveys about their past and intended future behaviour surrounding four crimes most commonly conducted by young offenders. In all, over 500 officers took part in the studies. Further, participants responded to a battery of personality and attitude questionnaires, along with questions about situational variables normally taken into consideration by officers. Results show that police behaviour towards the same offending varies greatly, both within and across jurisdictions. New Zealand police officers were much more likely than New South Wales police officers to report that they diverted, rather than arrested, young offenders who had committed shoplifting and burglary offences. However, when responding to scenarios of underage drinking and assault, it was New South Wales police who were more likely to divert young offenders. There were very few significant relationships between attitudes and behaviour when examining either group, with significant results possibly being a side effect of large sample sizes. Further there were few significant relationships when considering demographic or situational variables. However, in an exploration of police personality, through cluster analysis, evidence was found for different 'typologies', or resonances, of police. The results indicate that police are not an homogenous group. In addition, quite complex relationships between measures of police behaviour and individual difference were found within the resonances, with effect sizes showing moderate results. The findings support the need to investigate further personality typologies and extend them to the examination of attitude-behaviour relationships. In addition, research into the use of an attitudinal measure, such as discretionary ideology, as an alternative to measuring behaviour could be expanded. Moreover, broadening of the research into additional areas of the juvenile justice systems, such as legal representatives, magistrates, and youth detention centre officers, would provide further insight into the appropriate use of discretion within juvenile justice for both minor offending and more serious offending. / thesis (PhDBusinessandManagement)--University of South Australia, 2004.

Thesis (M. S.)--Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Mitchell, Helena; Committee Member: Clark, Jennifer; Committee Member: Elliott, Michael. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

Magistro baigiamajame darbe analizuojamos eismo saugumo problemos ir eismo įvykių tendencijos Lietuvoje bei Vilniaus mieste, ištirti eismo saugumą įtakojantys faktoriai, nagrinėjamas saugaus eismo sistemą reguliuojančių įstatymų ir saugų eismą užtikrinančio prevencinio darbo ryšys. Teisės aktai vertinami jų funkcionalumo visuomenėje požiūriu. Laikomasi nuostatos, kad saugaus eismo sistemos veiksmingumą lemia efektyvus teisės normų taikymas ir institucijų, atsakingų už prevencinį darbą, veiklos kontrolė. Darbe nagrinėjama vienos iš atsakingų už prevencinį darbą saugaus eismo srityje institucijų – Vilniaus miesto vyriausiojo policijos komisariato viešosios policijos Eismo priežiūros tarnybos – darbuotojų požiūris į atliekamą darbą, motyvacija dirbti bei pareigūnų atliekamo prevencinio darbo poveikis saugiam eismui ir eismo dalyvių elgsenai. / In this postgraduate final work investigates the traffic safety problems and traffic actions trend in Lithuania and Vilnius, investigated traffic safety influenced factors, discusses the connection between the legal basis regulating the system of safe traffic and the preventive work ensuring safe traffic. Legal arts are estimated from the standpoint of their function in society. The essence of the described problem lies in the fact that efficiency of safe traffic system is settled by the application of legal regulations and the qualitative work of the officers who are responsible for it. The method of work is based on the research of Vilnius Highway police services – viewpoint to work, motivation and the preventive work done by the officers of the Highway police.

Although police generally exercise wide discretionary powers across most of their duties, it is with respect to young people that these powers are the most extensive. Both sociological and psychological factors influence the use of police discretionary powers. There are said to be strong relationships between authoritarianism, for example, and justice outcomes. Other measures, such as cynicism and punitiveness, have been observed to be influential predictors of police behaviour. Extending the work on jury decision-making, along with other police research, the present research examines use of police discretionary powers with young offenders. Sworn police officers from two jurisdictions, New Zealand and New South Wales, responded to written surveys about their past and intended future behaviour surrounding four crimes most commonly conducted by young offenders. In all, over 500 officers took part in the studies. Further, participants responded to a battery of personality and attitude questionnaires, along with questions about situational variables normally taken into consideration by officers. Results show that police behaviour towards the same offending varies greatly, both within and across jurisdictions. New Zealand police officers were much more likely than New South Wales police officers to report that they diverted, rather than arrested, young offenders who had committed shoplifting and burglary offences. However, when responding to scenarios of underage drinking and assault, it was New South Wales police who were more likely to divert young offenders. There were very few significant relationships between attitudes and behaviour when examining either group, with significant results possibly being a side effect of large sample sizes. Further there were few significant relationships when considering demographic or situational variables. However, in an exploration of police personality, through cluster analysis, evidence was found for different 'typologies', or resonances, of police. The results indicate that police are not an homogenous group. In addition, quite complex relationships between measures of police behaviour and individual difference were found within the resonances, with effect sizes showing moderate results. The findings support the need to investigate further personality typologies and extend them to the examination of attitude-behaviour relationships. In addition, research into the use of an attitudinal measure, such as discretionary ideology, as an alternative to measuring behaviour could be expanded. Moreover, broadening of the research into additional areas of the juvenile justice systems, such as legal representatives, magistrates, and youth detention centre officers, would provide further insight into the appropriate use of discretion within juvenile justice for both minor offending and more serious offending. / thesis (PhDBusinessandManagement)--University of South Australia, 2004.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Counseling and Educational Psychology of the School of Education, 2007. / Adviser: Thomas L. Sexton. Includes bibliographical references (p. 131-148). Also available online.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 65).

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Also available in print.

Thesis(M.A. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in South African Police services, within Lephalale Municipality, Waterberg District in Limpopo Province. The study was conducted within seven police stations. The sample comprised of 189 employees some of whom were employed in terms of the SAPS Act No. 63 of 1995 and others who were employed in terms of the Public Service Act No 103 of 1995. The sample was drawn from the population of 398 of employees using systematic random sampling method. The research approach followed in this study was quantitative and data was collected through the administration of questionnaires over a period of (8) eight days. Respondents were requested to give their experiences and understanding of the functioning of the EAP programme, awareness of the programme, satisfaction with the programme and how accessible the programme was to them. A theoretical background on the effectiveness of the Employee Assistance Programme in this study was provided through literature. In the literature, the goals, objectives and intentions of EAP were discussed. The aspects of EAP which are critical for EAP effectiveness were also explored and discussed. These include the benefits of utilising EAP, the rationale for EAP evaluation, the nature of EAP functioning in SAPS and EAP core technologies. The findings of the study are based on the one hundred and eighty nine (189) questionnaires that were returned by respondents. The findings were presented through tables and graphs and also interpreted using words. The study generally found that employees are aware of the existence of EAP within SAPS, though the utilisation rate was very low. However there is a need to improve EAP operation and strategies within SAPS to allow EAP to reach more employees. Based on the findings of the study, conclusions and recommendations were made regarding the improvement of the EAP in SAPS.