Police Accountability in Action: An Examination of Support for Convicting and Incarcerating a Local Police Officer for Murder

• In Event: New Data on Police Officer Use of Force

Abstract

In the last few years, there have been several high-profile incidents where police officers shot civilians. There is less knowledge about the factors that play a role in determining whether citizens believe a police officer in one of these incidents should be held accountable. This study surveyed approximately 500 students from a Midwestern university to examine their support for convicting and incarcerating a campus police officer who shot and killed an unarmed African American man. Specifically, it examines whether perceptions of the police and symbolic racism play a role in determining support for convicting and incarcerating the officer.

Authors

• Omeed Ilchi, Westfield State University

• James Frank, University of Cincinnati