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6 Am. J. Police 45 (1987)
Adolescents' Attitudes toward Police: An Emphasis on Interactions between the Delinquency Measures of Alcohol and Marijuana, Police Contacts and Attitudes

handle is hein.journals/ajpol6 and id is 173 raw text is: American Journal of Police 45 ADOLESCENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE: AN EMPHASIS ON INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE DELINQUENCY MEASURES OF ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA, POLICE CONTACTS AND ATTITUDES Terry C. Cox Eastern Kentucky University Steven D. Falkenberg Eastern Kentucky University ABSTRACT Citizens' attitudes toward the police are an important facet in the total crime control efforts by the police. Considerable variance exists between various subgroups in their attitudes toward the police. Adolescents are among the more hostile subgroups. It is often be- lieved that these hostilities are the result of involvement in unlawful activity. Several researchers have consistently demonstrated that police contacts are related to negative attitudes toward the police. An important assumption in police work is that citizens who harbor negative sentiments toward the police are motivated by the threat that the police represent to them. An important part of this research focuses on the interactions between delinquency measures of in- volvement in alcohol and marijuana, police contacts, and attitudes toward the police. The sample includes adolescents from predomi- nantly rural areas. Citizens' attitudes toward the police are a concern for police administrators, community leaders, and social scientists. The atti- tude of the public toward police organizations is critical, because it determines the effectiveness of the organization and contributes to its ability to function properly within its environment. As the public attitude turns against the agency, so too, does public support in the