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37 J. Crim. Just. Educ. 1 (2026)

handle is hein.journals/jcrimjed37 and id is 1 raw text is: JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION 2026, VOL. 37, NO. 1, 1-19 https://doi.org/10.1080/10511253.2024.2340091 A Routledge Taylor&Francis Group Checkforupdatesd Factors That Influence Urban Recruits' Persistence to Pursue Police Careers in a Negative Occupational Climate Roberto Gallardo, Aaron Bartula, Paul Reynolds, Sean Hubbard and Eric Coleman The University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY The decision to become a police officer is often influenced by Received 19 September diverse motivations that vary across individuals. In a negative occu- 2023 pational climate context, understanding the initial motivations of Accepted 1 April 2024 police recruits becomes essential for improving recruitment strate- KEYWORDS gies and informing policy. In this study, we surveyed police acad- Policing; recruits; fear; emy recruits enrolled in a large urban police academy in Texas to education explore their motivations for joining the police force, specifically focusing on different forms of fear associated with the occupation. Our findings reveal significant variations based on demographics, particularly concerning various fears associated with the policing profession. These insights hold crucial implications for recruitment practices and policy-making, providing valuable information for better understanding the factors influencing police recruits' decision-making processes and contributing to a more informed and practical approach to police recruitment and occupational support. Introduction The profession of policing has become increasingly complex and challenging, partic- ularly in the face of an adverse occupational climate characterized by heightened public scrutiny, controversial incidents, and an array of perceived potential risks for police officers. In this context, understanding the motivations behind individuals' decisions to become police officers is of utmost importance for recruitment strategies and law enforcement personnel's overall well-being. This paper presents a compre- hensive study on police recruits within a large urban metropolitan police academy in Texas. The study aims to shed light on the underlying motivations of these recruits as they embark on their journey into a law enforcement career, particularly in a cli- mate marked by negativity and heightened apprehension. This research's central focus revolves around exploring motivations in relation to specific fears experienced by prospective police officers. Specifically, this study delves into the fears of injury or © 2024 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences