Date of Graduation

5-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Sociology (MA)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Sociology and Criminology

Advisor/Mentor

Yang, Song

Committee Member

Drawve, Grant R.

Second Committee Member

Thomas, Shaun

Keywords

Community Policing; Defund Police; Policing; Voluntary Contacts

Abstract

Publicized police misconduct and brutality over the past decade have contributed to increased tensions between the police and community. Exposure to these encounters can result in negative perceptions of police and have serious policy implications for funding of police departments. Although prior research has focused on previous contacts with police, little is known about how voluntary contacts with police can shape an individual’s perceptions. Given the recent death of George Floyd and movement to “defund the police,” the current study aims to determine whether there are demographic differences in perceptions of police among those who have experienced prior voluntary contacts and if satisfaction is a mediating factor. Utilizing data from the 2018 Police-Public Contact Survey (PPCS), results show that minorities and lower-income individuals are more likely to contact police in the future when compared to whites and higher income groups but that racial disparities are contingent on satisfaction level. These results add to the current literature, which focuses primarily on involuntary contacts with police, and demonstrates the need for future studies on voluntary contacts.

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