Robert M. Regoli

Measurement of police cynicism: A factor scaling approach

Abstract Niederhoffers police cynicism index is assessed in an attempt to identify and refine specific dimensions of police cynicism. Through a principal component factor analysis, a three-factor structure was identified. Three factor scales were developed, and their internal consistency, reliability, and predictive validity were compared with those of the original index. Overall, although less reliable, the factor scales proved to be more powerful predictors of salient criterion variables and to offer greater conceptual clarity in studying the effects of police cynicism.

Discretion and the Determinate Sentence: Its Distribution, Control, and Effect on Time Served

Sentencing reformers have criticized current sentencing practices as abusive and as rooted in untenable assumptions. While many different approaches have been suggested, most reformers agree that changes must (1) reduce or eliminate the discretion available to those responsible for sentencing and (2) reduce or eliminate discrepancies in sentences, while (3) not resulting in an unreasonable increase in prison populations. Recently, the Indiana legislature passed a new penal code which, among other changes, established a determinate sentencing structure. An analysis of this code suggests that the intent of most sentencing reformers may not have been met by this new law. The potential for discretion has not been reduced; in fact, prosecutors may now have more power to manipulate the sanctions imposed. Substantial control over the sentence has been placed in the hands of correctional staff through credit time provisions. And projection of the impact of this penalty scheme indicates that sentences may be almost 50 percent longer for some first-time felony offenders. It is concluded that many of the codes problems could be eliminated by reduc ing the length of prison sentences.

Public Support for the Death Penalty

Over the last decade public support for capital punishment has increased. Yet few empirical studies have attempted theoretically to explain this occurrence. Culling rather diverse literature, the seeds of three plausible explanations have emerged. They have been identified as the Rational, the Systems, and the Traditional Values models. Data for the project were derived from survey questionnaire responses of 1149 of 1872 persons (63 percent response rate), via a 4-wave mail survey. The sample was drawn from all available telephone directories in Washington State; both adult male and females were surveyed. The data offered minimal support for either the Rational or Systems models, and provided better support for the Traditional Values explanation. Because the Traditional Values model was the best supported, it was then subjected to a more systematic analysis by focusing on three of its salient dimensions. These included sexual restraint, orderliness, and discipline. Finally, policy implications of the data were addressed, particularly in light of recent United States Supreme Court decisions.

Work Relations and Cynicism Among Prison Guards

While researchers have recently focused their attention on cynicism as a role characteristic of prison guards, they have tended to view cynicism as a consequence of the organization of prison work and have not examined the attitude as the outcome of interaction with others in the institution. The present research explores the feasibility of this line of explanation. Data for the project were derived from questionnaire responses of 144 guards working in a large-state, maximum-security institution in the midwest. In addition to the questionnaire data, formal interviews were also conducted with a stratified sample of the institutions guards. While numerous findings emerged from the study, the most general showed that as a prison guards work relations with inmates, fellow officers, and administrators deteriorate, his level of cynicism increases. From this, we conclude the article with a discussion of the theoretical significance and practical importance of all findings presented.

Police professionalism and cynicism: an empirical assessment

This article examines the impact of police commitment to major tenets of a professional ideology on cynicism. Based on data collected from questionnaire responses of 260 police officers from three medium-size police departments, the analysis reveals that two professionalism dimensions—sense of calling to the field and belief in autonomy—exert the greatest effect in reducing or minimizing feelings of cynicism. The findings further suggest that the police have a narrow view of professionalism which may serve to reinforce the insular nature of police subcultures.

An empirical assessment of the effect of professionalism on cynicism among prison guards

Prison guards have generally escaped social science inquiry. Although the prison guards’ officially prescribed role (custody and security) is straightforward, part of the problem is their isolation from the free society and the danger and uncertainty surrounding their work. One attitude that is potentially emergent in this problematic environment is cynicism. To minimize the effects of cynicism on prison guards, correctional agencies have devised and implemented a plan of professionalization, which is characterized by a concern for higher standards in all areas and improved benefits and working conditions. Our focus was evaluating the effect, if any, professionalism has on cynicism. Analysis of data derived from 144 prison guards showed that the relationship between professionalism and cynicism is complex. Generally, only one professionalism dimension—sense of calling to the field—reduced a prison guards cynicism. Effects of other professionalism dimensions on cynicism ranged from negligible to moderate.

Changes in the professional commitment of police recruits: An exploratory case study

Abstract This research examines the effect of the initial socialization process on the level of professionalism among a cohort of thirty-six police recruits. These police recruits were surveyed at two points in their careers about their degree of professional commitment to the occupation. The first test period immediately followed their appointment to the force, and the second test period was six months later. Our principal finding was a significant decline in the level of professional commitment among the recruits between the two test periods; related findings to the professionalization process were similarly noted. The research demonstrates the effect of the initial socialization process among police and suggests ways police administrators can minimize the effect of initial socialization on level of professionalism, depending on their theoretical orientation.

Explaining Cynicism among City and County Police

This research extends our understanding of the determinants of police cynicism. The focus of the research is on contrasting levels of cynicism among police officers fiom varying organizational types. The data for the project came from responses of 189 law enforcement officers (73 from the county agency; 1 16 from the city agency.) Each officer responded to a survey instrument which had him indicate his agreement or disagreement with a set of police cynisicm items. The data were analyzed through gamma correlation coefficients. The findings revealed specific areas of difference between members of the two types of agencies, particularly on the dimensions of police cynicism likely to develop in each. The significance of this project is that it demonstrates the importance of exploring the relationship of alternative variables, from those traditionally used in the past, with the development and continuance of police cynicism. Further, the research suggests ap propriate avenues of inquiry for additional research.

A Comparison of Death Penalty Opinion Among University Students in the United States and Taiwan(superscript

While American opinion about the death penalty has been extensively studied, there have been remarkably few such studies carried out in Taiwan, a country that saw a dramatic increase in executions during the late 1980s and early 1990s, but that is now debating the possible abolishment of capital punishment. Using data from samples drawn from university students in Denver, Colorado and Taipei, Taiwan, the researchers compared expressed reasons for death penalty attitudes, factors that aggravated and mitigated that support, and opinions regarding who should be sentenced to death. The findings suggest support for the death penalty runs rampant in Taiwan, leading to the puzzling question: Why is Taiwan on the verge of abolishing it? The authors suggest the current government movement in Taiwan to abolish the death penalty is tied to it foreign policy objectives.

Youth Gangs in American Society

This paper provides an overview of the history, nature and extent, and efforts to control youth gangs in the United States. In the process of reporting this information we raise and answer important questions related to the creation, maintenance, and regulation of youth gangs in Taiwan and elsewhere. For example, regardless of what country they live in: (1) Are children more likely to violate norms and laws when they are with their friends? (2) Are juvenile gangs simply more formal and violent expressions of more normal school and neighborhood peer groups? (3) Why do juveniles form gangs in the first place? (4) How do the cultural experiences of different and competing racial and ethnic groups affect the development and transmission of juvenile gangs within and between cultures? In society, juvenile gangs are distinguishable from other groupings of children. For instance, while youth gangs in America have varied widely over time, from city to city, and even within cities, characteristic of gangs is an organizational structure that controls the flow of information, a clearly defined hierarchy of leadership, a turf or area of the city a gang has assumed ownership of, a solid, strong sense of cohesion among the members, and a purpose, such as selling illegal drugs or operating a prostitution ring. While these characteristics have remained constant over time, there are two significant differences between American gangs today and gangs in the past. Contemporary gangs in the United States are (1) much more violent than gangs of earlier decades and (2) much of the violence occurs within school settings. We conclude the paper with a discussion of the variety of different strategies that have been employed in the United States for responding to the problem of youth gangs over the past seven decades. Some of these include neighborhood mobilization approaches, social intervention programs, creating social and economic opportunities for estranged youth, the emergence of suppression efforts, and a variety of intervention and treatment strategies. Our hope is that others will learn from our failures.