Neighborhood-Level Effects on Trust in the Police

Abstract

From a multilevel perspective, the present study explores theoretical explanations for the causes of variations in neighborhoods’ trust in the police. The study is designed to answer these questions: Why do some neighborhoods trust the police more than other neighborhoods? What makes a person living in a specific neighborhood to have more or less trust in the police, controlling for the person’s personal views? To address these questions, the study analyzed survey responses from 1,024 residents selected from 25 communities across 5 regions in Ghana. Results revealed significant neighborhood variations in trust in the police in Ghana. Furthermore, a hierarchical linear modeling analysis revealed that the variations among the neighborhoods could be explained by their levels of disorder, income, and education. Findings from this study have both theoretical and practical implications and provide important insights for the police to improve upon their trustworthiness.