The Multiple Dimensions of Trust in Resident/Police Relations in Boston

Bibliographic Data

ID23374205
AuthorsSARA E STOUTLAND (corresponding author)
Year2001
Volume38
Issue3
Pages226-256
Publication date2001-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Research in Crime and Delinquency (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-4278 • E-ISSN: 1552-731X
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0022427801038003002
OpenAlexW2163278315
LanguageEN
Citations received76
References cited22

What is it about resident/police relations in poor urban communities that results in many community members' deep distrust in police? This question is addressed by applying a framework of the “four trust questions” to analyze the complexities of community members' perceptions of police and police action aimed at reducing youth violence in Boston's high-crime neighborhoods. To differentiate residents' multiple—and sometimes conflicting—expectations of police, trust is broken down into four questions about priorities, competence, dependability, and respectfulness. Based on more than 50 qualitative interviews with community members, findings reveal that many residents considered the police to meet their expectations of competence and dependability but not of shared priorities or respect. Respect, in particular, was important to residents, although they recognized a tension between police acting competently and respectfully.

Community policing · Competence (human resources) · Criminology · Dependability · Distrust · Perception · Police department · Political science · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Engineering · Policing Practices and Perceptions · Psychology · Social Psychology

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