A Longitudinal Analysis of Public Satisfaction with the Police in the Volgograd Region of Russia 1998—2005

Abstract

This study examines public satisfaction with police in a region of Russia and empirically confirms that dissatisfaction remains high and pervasive in the region. A brief historical summary is included that highlights the development of the Soviet police. The literature review includes a discussion of both Russian and English studies that have identified various factors related to public satisfaction with police. This study examines raw longitudinal citizen survey data ( N = 4,000) collected annually from 1998—2005 and focuses on citizen trust of criminal justice institutions and fear of crime as explanatory variables. An explanatory empirical model is developed to test whether low levels of public satisfaction with police in Russia can be attributed to the distrust of criminal justice institutions and fear of crime. The model is grounded in the motive-based theory of institutional trust. The findings of the study provide empirical evidence that criminal justice institutional trust is a major explanatory factor regarding public police satisfaction in Russia.