Francis D. Boateng

Perceptions of Democracy and Trust in the Criminal Justice System A Comparison Between Mainland China and Taiwan

For more than 50 years, research has been accumulating on how regime differences impact Mainland China and Taiwan in terms of socioeconomic transformation, the development of politics and constitutions, and diverse issues of foreign policy. Much less is known, however, about differences in public confidence in the criminal justice system. To address the obvious gap, this study utilized second-wave data collected by the Asian Barometer cross-national survey. Findings demonstrated that Chinese citizens reflect higher levels of trust in criminal justice institutions than their Taiwanese counterparts and public perceptions of the degree of democracy had a positive effect on public attitudes. Citizens who acknowledge more satisfaction with institutional performance also tend to have more trust in the criminal justice system.

Perceived Organizational Support and Police Officer Effectiveness Testing the Organizational Support Theory in Ghana

The study of perceived organizational support (POS) has received considerable attention in the academic literature. However, in police circles, POS has received minimal scholarly attention. To address this gap, the present study surveyed 145 police officers selected randomly from five police districts in Accra, Ghana, to investigate how officers’ perception of organizational support influence their effectiveness in performing assigned duties. The study further examined the influence of officers’ demographic characteristics on their perception of organizational support. Findings revealed that the perception of organizational support among officers influenced their perception of effectiveness and that older and shorter tenured officers expressed perceptions of greater support. Policy implications of the findings are discussed.

Let Me Speak Officer Perceptions of Community Members in Ghana

Recognizing a gap in the African policing literature created due to the lack of research on police officers attitudes toward the public, the present study was conducted to bridge this gap by examining officers perceptions of the public and to determine whether such perceptions influence officers behavior on the street and their perception of effectiveness. Using a randomized sample of 145 police officers selected from five police districts in Accra, Ghana, the study found that police officers in Ghana generally hold negative views of the public they serve. Findings also revealed that officers perception of public cooperation significantly predict their behavior and perception of effectiveness in controlling crime in the community. However, officers perceptions of public recognition and compliance with the rule of law were not found to predict their behavior and perception of effectiveness. Policy implications of the findings were discussed.

Our past The effect of colonialism on policing in Ghana

This article explores the effects of colonialism on policing in Ghana, and suggests ways of improving police legitimacy. Ghana experienced a century-long colonization by the British, and this experience had a tremendous impact on contemporary governmental institutions in the country. The Ghana police, one of the major institutions that has suffered from colonialism, continue to apply the policies, practices, and behaviors of the colonial policing system. An approach that has woefully and negatively affected police legitimation in the country. The article furthers the discussion of police legitimacy in post-colonial Ghana and puts forth two related arguments: first, the legitimacy problems facing the police today were due to the imperialist rule by the British; and second, the best way to address these problems is for the police to untangle itself from the past. Specific recommendations are offered to enable the police improve upon its legitimacy.

Willingness to Report Sexual Offenses to the Police in Ghana

Abstract This study examined reasons why women in Ghana would report or not report sexual offenses to the police. Using a representative field survey, data were collected during summer of 2011 (N = 431) in the capital, Accra. We found that women would report sexual offenses because they want the offender to be caught and punished, and because crimes should be reported. Reasons for not reporting include when women consider the incident not serious enough, the perpetrator is known, and family will solve it. A multivariate analysis shows that only previous sexual victimization is a significant predictor of sexual offense reporting among women in Ghana.

Trust in and legitimacy of the police among American college students A preliminary assessment

The purpose of this study is to assess whether police fairness, effectiveness, assistance and fear of crime variables help explain trust in the police among university students. Five hundred questionnaires were distributed to all students in randomly selected summer courses offered by the university in 2012; 414 questionnaires were filled and returned, yielding a response rate of about 83%. Ordinary least square regression was used to estimate the effects of our independent variables on college students’ trust in the police. The results show that police fairness and police assistance were significantly related to trust in the police after accounting for respondents’ demographic characteristics. However, fear of crime and police effectiveness did not predict students’ trust in the police. This study was carried out on a sample of college students in one Carnegie 1 institution, thus findings have limited generalisability and need to be interpreted with caution. Our research and findings add another small piece to the theoretical confusion, and inconsistent findings, on the topics of factors supporting trust in the police which now characterises the literature, but do not undermine the basic policy value of procedural justice. This study can provide useful references for policing scholars, policy makers and police practitioners.

In the Eyes of the Gatekeepers Insights of Chinese Police officers Perceptions of the Public

The purpose of this paper is to examine Chinese police officers’ attitudes toward the individuals they serve and protect. Using cross-sectional data collected from 271 police officers in a Chinese police university, this paper examines the effects of officers’ perceptions of citizens’ cooperation, compliance with laws, recognition and disrespect. Chinese police officers generally have mixed feelings about citizens. While officers negatively perceived citizens’ levels of cooperation, they believed the Chinese public were law-abiding and recognised the police for their work. Results further revealed a significant relationship between officers’ attitudes and their sense of effectiveness and behaviour. Future research should include more attitudinal dimensions, such as officers’ personality traits, and examine the relationship from a longitudinal perspective. Findings provide insights for Chinese administrators to reform the police with a focus on strengthening citizen–police relationships.

Crime Reporting Behavior Do Attitudes Toward the Police Matter

Police researchers have long argued that favorable evaluations of the police eventually lead to citizens’ willingness to cooperate with the police. However, this assumption has barely been studied empirically. The current study examines the association between attitudes toward the police and crime reporting behavior of victims. Furthermore, the study explores the influence of victims’ characteristics on their decisions to report crime to the police. Using field data originally collected in Ghana, the study found that victims’ levels of confidence in the police and satisfaction with police work positively predict their decisions to report sexual assault and robbery to the police. Moreover, findings revealed that age, marital status, and employment status are important predictors of victims’ reporting behavior. Several practical and theoretical implications of the results are discussed.

Students and the police in Ghana: mixed feelings

Abstract This study examines university students’ perceptions of the Ghana police service in contrast with general population studies that explain citizens’ attitudes toward the police. Two research questions guided this study: (1) What are university students’ perceptions of the police? and (2) What factors influence university students’ perceptions of the police? Using data collected from one large university in Ghana between the months of December 2012 and February 2013, the study found several intriguing findings. First, students have moderate trust in the Ghana police. Second, students critically evaluated police procedural fairness and effectiveness. Multivariate regression models revealed that vicarious experiences of police corruption, marital status, level of education, and ethnicity predicted students’ trust in the police as well as influenced their perceptions of fairness and effectiveness. Policy implications of the findings are discussed.

Neighborhood-Level Effects on Trust in the Police: A Multilevel Analysis

From a multilevel perspective, the present study explores theoretical explanations for the causes of variations in neighborhoods’ trust in the police. The study is designed to answer these questions: Why do some neighborhoods trust the police more than other neighborhoods? What makes a person living in a specific neighborhood to have more or less trust in the police, controlling for the person’s personal views? To address these questions, the study analyzed survey responses from 1,024 residents selected from 25 communities across 5 regions in Ghana. Results revealed significant neighborhood variations in trust in the police in Ghana. Furthermore, a hierarchical linear modeling analysis revealed that the variations among the neighborhoods could be explained by their levels of disorder, income, and education. Findings from this study have both theoretical and practical implications and provide important insights for the police to improve upon their trustworthiness.