Thin Blue Line: The Effect of Racial Attitudes on Perceptions of Police

• In Event: The University of Cincinnati Crime and Justice Public Opinion Lab: Part II

Abstract

Public opinion research on racial attitudes and perceptions of the police have predominantly focused on the influence of racial resentment/prejudice on support for police use of excessive force. Many of these studies fail to adequately explore the effect racial attitudes have on general support for police as an institution, nor have they fully explored the influence of attitudes other than racial resentment, such as racial sympathy and White nationalism. Considering recent social justice movements, such as Black Lives Matter, that have spurred extensive discussions about police reform and equity in the criminal justice system, it is crucial to consider the influence that a range of racial attitudes have on perceptions of police. Using a 2022 YouGov survey (N ≈ 2,400), this study seeks to fill these gaps in the literature by examining the extent that a spectrum of racial attitudes (white supremacy, racial resentment, racial sympathy) predicts perceptions of police (e.g., support for police, police legitimacy) among an approximately representative sample of U.S. adults. Implications for police reform and public policy are discussed.

Authors

• Brandon Nicholas Bledsoe, University of Cincinnati

• Leah C. Butler, University of Cincinnati