What Matters

Abstract

Public attitudes toward the police are often studied because of their relationship with citizens' support of the existing order. Much of the literature on the public's opinion of law enforcement personnel and organizations, however, does not provide police practitioners with a clear strategy to improve matters. The current study, based on interviews of Santa Ana, California residents, represents an attempt to assess the relative influence of individual characteristics, perceptions, and ecological conditions on attitudes toward the police. The results suggest specific mechanisms by which the police might improve the public's opinion of them.