Policing can be a dangerous profession. While the rate of intentional violence against the police has declined slightly over the past few decades, police rhetoric seems to communicate the opposite. Given this messaging, do officers accurately assess their own risk of violence? To address this question, interviews were conducted with 184 police officers in Pennsylvania. Participants were asked about (1) the risk of assault on police officers compared to 5 years ago; (2) the risk of assault on officers in their own department compared to other police departments; and (3) how they would advise others to cope with this risk. Bivariate analyses indicate that respondents thought police are more likely to be assaulted now compared to 5 years ago. Other findings and implications of these results will be discussed, along with officer advice on how to cope with the risk of policing.
{"title":"Police perception of their assault victimization risk and advice to cope with the risk","authors":"Daniel B. Yanich, Jennifer C. Gibbs","doi":"10.1093/police/paae025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paae025","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Policing can be a dangerous profession. While the rate of intentional violence against the police has declined slightly over the past few decades, police rhetoric seems to communicate the opposite. Given this messaging, do officers accurately assess their own risk of violence? To address this question, interviews were conducted with 184 police officers in Pennsylvania. Participants were asked about (1) the risk of assault on police officers compared to 5 years ago; (2) the risk of assault on officers in their own department compared to other police departments; and (3) how they would advise others to cope with this risk. Bivariate analyses indicate that respondents thought police are more likely to be assaulted now compared to 5 years ago. Other findings and implications of these results will be discussed, along with officer advice on how to cope with the risk of policing.","PeriodicalId":516781,"journal":{"name":"Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice","volume":"16 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140519904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In recent years, Sweden has witnessed a rise in criminal activity, notably in organized crime, gang violence, and incidents like shootings and explosions. This trend has sparked considerable political and media debates, in Sweden and internationally. This paper analyses how the Swedish police authority comprehend the situation discursively. How do they define their role and mission in society? What problems do they identify? What goals and strategies do they propose, and what values are attached to these? This is illustrated by policy documents and website materials from the police authority. The results show three main problematizations: crime and crime fighting, working within the police organization, and relations between the police and citizens. Key findings are that the police authority represents crimes and the role of the police in different ways depending on what type of crime discussed, and that they connect various aspects of police work to non-repressive values, such as trust and safety.
{"title":"What is the problem represented to be in the Swedish police authority: A policy analysis","authors":"J. Danell, Josefina Jarl","doi":"10.1093/police/paae041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paae041","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 In recent years, Sweden has witnessed a rise in criminal activity, notably in organized crime, gang violence, and incidents like shootings and explosions. This trend has sparked considerable political and media debates, in Sweden and internationally. This paper analyses how the Swedish police authority comprehend the situation discursively. How do they define their role and mission in society? What problems do they identify? What goals and strategies do they propose, and what values are attached to these? This is illustrated by policy documents and website materials from the police authority. The results show three main problematizations: crime and crime fighting, working within the police organization, and relations between the police and citizens. Key findings are that the police authority represents crimes and the role of the police in different ways depending on what type of crime discussed, and that they connect various aspects of police work to non-repressive values, such as trust and safety.","PeriodicalId":516781,"journal":{"name":"Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice","volume":"276 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140521027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jessica Huff, Samantha S. Clinkinbeard, Rachael M. Rief, Brenna Dunlap, Inès Zamouri, Lexi Goodijohn, Caroline Meenagh, Champ Champenstein, Jane Townsley, Mirko Fernandez, Jessica Swanson
Despite persistent support for increasing gender diversity in US policing, women remain underrepresented. Yet, barriers to women in policing are not universal. Many police organizations in the USA and internationally have implemented promising gender-responsive approaches. The International and Nebraska Associations of Women Police (IAWP/NAWP) and UN Women convened a Gender-Responsive Policing Summit to share successful efforts to improve recruitment, retention, promotion, and wellness of women in policing. Researchers conducted systematic observations of Summit sessions, paying particular attention to solutions offered to advance gender-responsive policing. This instrumental case study summarizes lessons learned based on multistage inductive coding of Summit observation notes. Themes emerged around strategic planning and data use, leadership and promotion, health and wellness policies, associations, and support initiatives. This study provides real-world strategies police agencies can use to improve gender diversity, informed by police professionals committed to improving women’s experiences in policing on an international scale.
{"title":"Recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in policing: Lessons learned from the IAWP Gender-Responsive Policing Summit","authors":"Jessica Huff, Samantha S. Clinkinbeard, Rachael M. Rief, Brenna Dunlap, Inès Zamouri, Lexi Goodijohn, Caroline Meenagh, Champ Champenstein, Jane Townsley, Mirko Fernandez, Jessica Swanson","doi":"10.1093/police/paae013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paae013","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Despite persistent support for increasing gender diversity in US policing, women remain underrepresented. Yet, barriers to women in policing are not universal. Many police organizations in the USA and internationally have implemented promising gender-responsive approaches. The International and Nebraska Associations of Women Police (IAWP/NAWP) and UN Women convened a Gender-Responsive Policing Summit to share successful efforts to improve recruitment, retention, promotion, and wellness of women in policing. Researchers conducted systematic observations of Summit sessions, paying particular attention to solutions offered to advance gender-responsive policing. This instrumental case study summarizes lessons learned based on multistage inductive coding of Summit observation notes. Themes emerged around strategic planning and data use, leadership and promotion, health and wellness policies, associations, and support initiatives. This study provides real-world strategies police agencies can use to improve gender diversity, informed by police professionals committed to improving women’s experiences in policing on an international scale.","PeriodicalId":516781,"journal":{"name":"Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice","volume":"19 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140519722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jill A Davis, Zhongnan Jiang, Shahidul Hassan, Leisha DeHart‐Davis
This study examines differences in workplace incivility experiences between policewomen and policemen and the impacts of workplace incivility experiences on the emotional exhaustion and turnover intentions of policewomen. The analysis relies on survey data collected from 591 officers across 6 law enforcement organizations in the USA. The research reveals that, compared to policemen, policewomen report significantly higher levels of workplace incivility. Policewomen also report heightened emotional exhaustion and express a greater intention to leave their current positions than policemen. Moreover, the study finds that the increased workplace incivility experienced by policewomen exacerbates emotional exhaustion and may prompt them to consider leaving their organization. The implications of these findings for the well-being and retention of women in law enforcement organizations are thoroughly discussed.
{"title":"Gender differences in workplace incivility experiences and their impacts on the well-being and retention of women in law enforcement organizations","authors":"Jill A Davis, Zhongnan Jiang, Shahidul Hassan, Leisha DeHart‐Davis","doi":"10.1093/police/paad090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paad090","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 This study examines differences in workplace incivility experiences between policewomen and policemen and the impacts of workplace incivility experiences on the emotional exhaustion and turnover intentions of policewomen. The analysis relies on survey data collected from 591 officers across 6 law enforcement organizations in the USA. The research reveals that, compared to policemen, policewomen report significantly higher levels of workplace incivility. Policewomen also report heightened emotional exhaustion and express a greater intention to leave their current positions than policemen. Moreover, the study finds that the increased workplace incivility experienced by policewomen exacerbates emotional exhaustion and may prompt them to consider leaving their organization. The implications of these findings for the well-being and retention of women in law enforcement organizations are thoroughly discussed.","PeriodicalId":516781,"journal":{"name":"Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice","volume":"143 5-6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140516926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Citizens generally express confidence in the police organization, but satisfaction with police services can diminish after voluntary contact with an officer. It appears that officers sometimes struggle to understand what citizens expect and need from them. Victims of crime may not necessarily wish to punish an offender; they may just want to be heard and have their problem resolved. In response, the Dutch police have introduced a pilot to provide ‘meaningful interventions’, such as conflict mediation, as a way to bridge institutional and citizen perspectives successfully. This article presents a qualitative evaluation of the pilot by applying the EMMIE framework, which stands for Effect, Mechanisms, Moderators, Implementation, and Economics, to the available data. In conclusion, meaningful interventions show promise in better aligning police service delivery with the needs and expectations of citizens. Future research is necessary to gain a fuller evidence-based analysis of how meaningful interventions work.
{"title":"Meaningful interventions: Applying a citizen-centric approach to problem-solving in community policing","authors":"Ronald van Steden, Jordi den Hartog","doi":"10.1093/police/paae030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paae030","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Citizens generally express confidence in the police organization, but satisfaction with police services can diminish after voluntary contact with an officer. It appears that officers sometimes struggle to understand what citizens expect and need from them. Victims of crime may not necessarily wish to punish an offender; they may just want to be heard and have their problem resolved. In response, the Dutch police have introduced a pilot to provide ‘meaningful interventions’, such as conflict mediation, as a way to bridge institutional and citizen perspectives successfully. This article presents a qualitative evaluation of the pilot by applying the EMMIE framework, which stands for Effect, Mechanisms, Moderators, Implementation, and Economics, to the available data. In conclusion, meaningful interventions show promise in better aligning police service delivery with the needs and expectations of citizens. Future research is necessary to gain a fuller evidence-based analysis of how meaningful interventions work.","PeriodicalId":516781,"journal":{"name":"Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice","volume":"23 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140520733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Regime Type and Beyond: The Transformation of the Police in Asia Weitseng Chen and Hualing Fu (eds.) (2023). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 978-1-316-51741-3. 394 pages","authors":"Stiven Tremaria","doi":"10.1093/police/paae047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paae047","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":516781,"journal":{"name":"Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice","volume":"28 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140518723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ann Marie Ryan, Deepshikha Chatterjee, Kurt von Seekamm, Joie Magalona, Juli Liebler, Jo M Alanis
Retention in policing may be currently viewed as more challenging than ever. One focal point of concern is turnover early in occupational socialization, such as while still in academy training. In this paper, we examine data on withdrawal from Academy training for one state police agency from 1934 to 2022. We address whether there are trends in Academy turnover over time and examine how/if retention is impacted by external factors such as the economic and historical/societal context. We conclude our work with a set of practical implications for considering how external events influence retention during training.
{"title":"Leaving so soon? An analysis of withdrawal patterns from academy training","authors":"Ann Marie Ryan, Deepshikha Chatterjee, Kurt von Seekamm, Joie Magalona, Juli Liebler, Jo M Alanis","doi":"10.1093/police/paae018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paae018","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Retention in policing may be currently viewed as more challenging than ever. One focal point of concern is turnover early in occupational socialization, such as while still in academy training. In this paper, we examine data on withdrawal from Academy training for one state police agency from 1934 to 2022. We address whether there are trends in Academy turnover over time and examine how/if retention is impacted by external factors such as the economic and historical/societal context. We conclude our work with a set of practical implications for considering how external events influence retention during training.","PeriodicalId":516781,"journal":{"name":"Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice","volume":"85 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140522332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In an effort to reduce gender disparities in policing and move beyond the current legitimacy crisis faced by the profession, there has been a renewed focus on increasing the recruitment and retention of female police officers. Beyond understanding why current female officers have remained in the field, it is important to understand why some have left the profession altogether. The current study employs deductive and inductive coding of a mixed-methods self-report survey from 154 current and former female officers in the Dallas Police Department (DPD). We sought to examine the advice that current and former female police officers would give to other women who might want to enter or promote within policing. Responses highlighted challenges related to the impact on family life, navigating the male-dominated culture, maintaining one’s sense of identity and integrity, and creating strong social support networks. Implications for the DPD and other agencies are discussed.
{"title":"‘The bar is different as a woman’: A thematic analysis of career advice given by female police officers","authors":"Kathleen E. Padilla, Kellie Renfro, Jessica Huff","doi":"10.1093/police/paae045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paae045","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 In an effort to reduce gender disparities in policing and move beyond the current legitimacy crisis faced by the profession, there has been a renewed focus on increasing the recruitment and retention of female police officers. Beyond understanding why current female officers have remained in the field, it is important to understand why some have left the profession altogether. The current study employs deductive and inductive coding of a mixed-methods self-report survey from 154 current and former female officers in the Dallas Police Department (DPD). We sought to examine the advice that current and former female police officers would give to other women who might want to enter or promote within policing. Responses highlighted challenges related to the impact on family life, navigating the male-dominated culture, maintaining one’s sense of identity and integrity, and creating strong social support networks. Implications for the DPD and other agencies are discussed.","PeriodicalId":516781,"journal":{"name":"Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice","volume":"8 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140519761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gender Inclusive Policing: Challenges and Achievements Tim Prenzler (ed.) (2023), New York and London: Routledge. ISBN: 978-1-032-25454-8; 971-1-032-25158-5 (pbk); 978-1-003-28326 (ebk). 162 p.","authors":"Dorothy Moses Schulz","doi":"10.1093/police/paad105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paad105","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":516781,"journal":{"name":"Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140515850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Record numbers of police officers are voluntarily resigning in England and Wales yet there is a lack of research which analyses why. Findings from an analysis of 62 interviews with police leavers who voluntarily resigned from the police service within England and Wales between January 2021 and June 2022 suggest that officers are leaving primarily due to perceptions of organizational injustice which focus upon: a lack of voice; concerns about promotion/progression; poor leadership; and a lack of organizational flexibility. This paper takes this latter reason—organizational flexibility—as its focus and through an inductive analysis of these leavers’ voices, aims to both enrich the scarce qualitative academic literature on police workforce resignations and retention but also to offer significant evidence for future consideration of workforce optimization. The findings indicate that although sympathetic to operational policing complexities, participants were frustrated by organizational inflexibility. Three key areas were identified where the police service was perceived to be unsupportive or unreceptive—(a) dealing with additional needs, disabilities, or health issues of officers, (b) conflicts with non-work commitments, primarily those associated with childcare/parental responsibilities, and (c) supporting officers transitioning to part-time working. These structural barriers to effective workplace functioning were exacerbated by the cultural norms of overwork and ‘fitting in’ and were additionally particularly experienced by female resigners. The authors call for a challenge to the cultural barriers towards flexible working, the modelling of flexible working at all levels of the organization, and a focus on reciprocal flexibility between employer and employee. Until this issue can be tackled, it is argued that retention will continue to be an underestimated but significant site of inequality within policing.
{"title":"‘In the “too difficult” box?’ Organizational inflexibility as a driver of voluntary resignations of police officers in England and Wales","authors":"Sarah Charman, Jemma Tyson","doi":"10.1093/police/paad104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paad104","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Record numbers of police officers are voluntarily resigning in England and Wales yet there is a lack of research which analyses why. Findings from an analysis of 62 interviews with police leavers who voluntarily resigned from the police service within England and Wales between January 2021 and June 2022 suggest that officers are leaving primarily due to perceptions of organizational injustice which focus upon: a lack of voice; concerns about promotion/progression; poor leadership; and a lack of organizational flexibility. This paper takes this latter reason—organizational flexibility—as its focus and through an inductive analysis of these leavers’ voices, aims to both enrich the scarce qualitative academic literature on police workforce resignations and retention but also to offer significant evidence for future consideration of workforce optimization. The findings indicate that although sympathetic to operational policing complexities, participants were frustrated by organizational inflexibility. Three key areas were identified where the police service was perceived to be unsupportive or unreceptive—(a) dealing with additional needs, disabilities, or health issues of officers, (b) conflicts with non-work commitments, primarily those associated with childcare/parental responsibilities, and (c) supporting officers transitioning to part-time working. These structural barriers to effective workplace functioning were exacerbated by the cultural norms of overwork and ‘fitting in’ and were additionally particularly experienced by female resigners. The authors call for a challenge to the cultural barriers towards flexible working, the modelling of flexible working at all levels of the organization, and a focus on reciprocal flexibility between employer and employee. Until this issue can be tackled, it is argued that retention will continue to be an underestimated but significant site of inequality within policing.","PeriodicalId":516781,"journal":{"name":"Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140520382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}