Perceptions of the Neighborhood: Implications for Community Policing Strategies

• In Event: 477 - Section on Crime, Law, and Deviance Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 19. Procedures and Justice 2

Abstract

Community policing strategies are based on proactive strategies to reduce crime. The successful implementation of these programs, however, rests on police and residents understanding the needs in their communities. Much neighborhood research highlights residents’ perceptions of key elements in their neighborhoods, including cohesion and trust, feelings of safety, and perceptions of crime. The body of research is lacking the impact of police officer perceptions of the neighborhood. Marked differences between resident and police perceptions can affect the impact of policing strategies implemented in each neighborhood. The current research examines police and resident perceptions of neighborhood issues, including feelings of safety and elements of cohesion and trust across three neighborhoods in a Midwestern city. The results of a descriptive analysis indicate there are indeed differences in the perception of the neighborhood. Residents not only have different interpretations of the neighborhood than police officers, but each neighborhood is unique. To interpret why each neighborhood might be unique, we examine additional police perspectives of the neighborhood. The types of policing strategies used and the relationship police officers have with residents impact the perceptions police officers hold of the neighborhoods.

Authors

• Rachel E. Stein, West Virginia University

• Candace Elaine Griffith, West Virginia University