Explaining Racial Differences in Ferguson’s Impact on Local Residents’ Trust and Perceived Legitimacy: Policy Implications for Police:

Public support and trust are critical to effective democratic policing, but scholars have suggested police in the United States may be experiencing a legitimacy crisis. High-profile police-involved shootings like those which have happened over the last 2 years can have negative consequences. This st...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Kochel, Tammy Rinehart (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2019
In: Criminal justice policy review
Year: 2019, Volume: 30, Issue: 3, Pages: 374-405
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Keywords:
Accumulated experience
Group identity
Police legitimacy
Procedural justice
Race
Use-of-force
Description
Summary:Public support and trust are critical to effective democratic policing, but scholars have suggested police in the United States may be experiencing a legitimacy crisis. High-profile police-involved shootings like those which have happened over the last 2 years can have negative consequences. This study assesses the consequences of the Ferguson, Missouri unrest and police response on local residents’ views. A panel survey of St Louis County, Missouri residents conducted before and after the police shooting of Michael Brown examines the effects on procedural justice and trust, police legitimacy, and willingness to cooperate with police. Results reveal a significantly different effect on African American versus non-Black residents. African Americans’ views significantly declined while non-Black residents’ perceptions were stable. Qualitative data are used to apply the conflict/group position and accumulated experience theories to explain racial disparities and are used as a basis to offer strategies to improve confidence and trust in police.
ISSN:1552-3586
DOI:10.1177/0887403416684923