Exploring further determinants of citizen satisfaction with the police: The role of strain. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ferdik, Frank; Frogge, George; Cooney, Mikaela
• Is Part Of: Journal of criminal justice. Volume 81(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Police -- Citizen satisfaction -- Strain -- Perceptions -- Mental health -- Therapeutic policing; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; Justice pénale -- Administration -- Périodiques; 364.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2022.101931
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-2352

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: Whether public members feel satisfied with law enforcement is a fundamental determinant of their willingness to cooperate with the police, and comply with the law. Numerous studies have uncovered predictors of citizen satisfaction with the police, including race and procedural justice. To date though, the role of strain in affecting this outcome has been largely ignored. Methods: Electronic survey data were collected from a convenience sample of university students to determine if respondent strain levels shared any empirical association with their satisfaction with the police. Results: Ordinary least squares regression equations uncovered a negative and statistically significant relationship between strain and satisfaction with law enforcement, net of controls. Discussion: If strain is an antecedent to eventual criminal behavior, whereby possibly involving police contact, officers are encouraged to deploy therapeutic policing strategies to address the underlying distress affecting citizens. Highlights: Perceptions of the police matter in predicting criminal behavior. Effects of strain have yet to be tested on public satisfaction with police. Strain negatively predicted citizen satisfaction with police. Police are encouraged to employ therapeutic policing with the public.