Intersectionality and Police Perceptions in the post-Ferguson Era: A Different Kind of Ferguson Effect?

• In Event: Problematizing Policing: Comparing Citizen and Police Perceptions

Abstract

Police in the United States are facing increased scrutiny in the wake of highly publicized incidents of officer-involved shootings and the Black Lives Matter movement. While the alleged "Ferguson effect" on crime rates has been largely debunked, these events have likely impacted citizen’s perceptions of police legitimacy, which can reduce police effectiveness. Some departments are responding by equipping their officers with body worn cameras, or taking other steps to enhance community relationships and citizen satisfaction. This paper reports results of a survey designed to assess citizen satisfaction among a population of individuals who had recent contact with police in one locality. Existing research suggests that satisfaction with and perceptions about police are shaped by a number of factors, including race, sex, education, age, media exposure, and neighborhood context. However, many studies find that an individual’s personal experiences with police are the most important predictor. Most do not distinguish global attitudes about police in the United States as a whole from general attitudes about one’s local police department, which is necessary in today’s post-Ferguson era. The current study fills these gaps by exploring the statistical relationships between each of these attitudinal variables and how these attitudes are shaped by the intersection of race and gender.

Author

• Allison Foley, Augusta University