Understanding the Perception Gap: Police Recruits’ Views on Public Trust and Policing Strategies

• In Event: Reimagining the Frontlines: Institutional Practices, Officer Perspectives, and Local Legitimacy

Abstract

For the past two decades, policing in the United States has been under severe scrutiny and pressure to reform, experiencing a “crisis of legitimacy.” The principles of fairness and effectiveness in policing are at the core of establishing legitimacy, but officers’ perceptions of these principles may differ from those of the public. This discrepancy in perceptions could shape the attitudes and decision-making of officers in enforcing the law. This study employs data from police recruits in a large suburban county to examine this perception gap. Specifically, this study examines recruits’ evaluations of the fairness and effectiveness of policing activities and their beliefs regarding how the public views policing at both the national (United States) and local (county) levels. In addition, the current study explores how this gap is correlated with officers’ endorsement of different policing styles, such as community-oriented policing, procedural justice, and zero-tolerance policing. The findings contribute to the broad discussion on officer perspectives and their implications for policing strategies.

Authors

• Hyunji Lee, George Mason University

• Cynthia Lum, George Mason University

• Beidi Dong, George Mason University