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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 10:31 pm
Time: 10:31 pm
Results for police-citizen interactions (washington state)
1 results foundAuthor: Gau, Jacinta M. Title: Report of Results of the 2007 Citizen Survey. Eighth Periodic Survey of Public Attitudes Toward the Washington State Patrol: Focus on Racial Profiling and Aggressive Driving and Longitudinal Assessment, 1992 – 2007 Summary: This report is the eighth in a series of Washington State citizen assessments of the performance of the Washington State Patrol. As with the previous assessments, this survey was conducted by mail. The survey sample was selected randomly from 10 universes of potential respondents: Citizens who were cited (arrested) by the WSP; citizens to whom the WSP issued written warnings; citizens who received verbal warnings; citizens who were searched by WSP troopers; citizens who were rendered assistance by troopers; four autonomous patrol areas of high minority contacts (Kelso, Sunnyside, Highway 99, and South King County); and a random cross-section of Washington State residents. The purpose of the survey was twofold: 1) to provide the WSP with feedback concerning citizens’ current opinions and attitudes about troopers; and 2) to offer a longitudinal comparison of how those opinions and attitudes have changed over time. It should be noted that some changes have been made to the 2007 questionnaire items that may preclude a full comparison between 2007 and prior years; nevertheless, the key questions remain the same and can be used for trend analysis. In addition, the sampling procedure allows for comparisons between those who have been sanctioned by the WSP (citation, search, etc.), those who have been assisted by the WSP, and a random sample of Washington State citizens who may or may not have had recent contact with the WSP. Each survey in the series has featured a new topic area that is of interest to the WSP at the time of the survey. The featured topic area in the 2007 survey is road rage and aggressive driving. The survey contained items asking respondents to indicate the extent to which these behaviors are a problem in Washington, and to report their perceptions of the effort that WSP has invested in addressing these problems. The 2007 survey also included a question tapping citizens’ attitudes about whether or not the WSP uses driver race as a basis for making traffic stops. The inclusion of this question allows for ongoing monitoring of the public’s attitudes about the incidence of racial profiling by the WSP. Though the bulk of the survey was quantitative in nature, there was a qualitative aspect as well. Respondents had several opportunities throughout the survey to provide written elaborations on their views about road rage and aggressive driving, about their satisfaction with WSP services, about biased policing, and about other traffic- and driving-related issues. These comments were analyzed to determine if common themes emerged; that is, whether large groups of respondents wrote about the same problem(s). Ten such themes emerged from this analysis: 1) concern was expressed about road rage and aggressive or reckless driving; 2) problems were noted with semi-truck drivers; 3) concerns about under-enforcement of traffic laws by the WSP were expressed; 4) overlylenient treatment of traffic law violators by the legislature and/or courts were cited; 5) citizens’ views on WSP ticketing practices were noted (e.g., the belief that quotas guide troopers’ discretion); 6) biased policing was noted; 7) confusion regarding the WSP’s mission and function as a law enforcement agency was expressed; 8) concern was voiced regarding limited visibility and level of service that the WSP provides in areas where some people drive; 9) there was disappointment in troopers’ demeanor and respectfulness; and 10) attitudes about the professionalism and overall effectiveness of the WSP were described. The results of the content analysis will be summarized in Part 4 of this report, and the full analysis is located in Appendix B. Details: Pullman, WA: Washington State University, Division of Governmental Studies and Services, 2007. 198p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 27, 2012 at: http://www.wsp.wa.gov/publications/reports/citizen07.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsp.wa.gov/publications/reports/citizen07.pdf Shelf Number: 124296 Keywords: Aggressive DrivingPolice-Citizen Interactions (Washington State)Public OpinionRacial ProfilingRacial Profiling in Law EnforcementRoad Rage |