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Cited by 111Policing Practices and PerceptionsCrime Patterns and InterventionsCriminal Justice and Penology

Can You Build a Better Cop?: Experimental Evidence on Supervision, Training, and Policing in the Community

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Owens, Emily, Weisburd, David, Amendola, Karen L., Alpert, Geoffrey P.·2018·Criminology & Public Policy
DOI 10.1111/1745-9133.12337
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Abstract

Research Summary: By drawing from psychology and economics, we present an experimental evaluation of a procedural justice training program designed to “slow down” police officers’ thought processes during citizen encounters. We find that officers who were randomly assigned to participate in training were as engaged in the community as similarly situated officers, but they were less likely to resolve incidents with an arrest or to be involved in incidents where force was used. These changes were most evident among officers who worked in areas with a modest level of risk. Policy Implications: Police officers who are actively engaged with the public can reduce crime through general deterrence and by arresting criminals. Nevertheless, excessive discretionary arrests and the use of force by officers can reduce public trust in the police. To date, there is scant evidence as to how police departments can successfully train officers to balance enforcement and public trust in the field. Through our study, we demonstrate that a relatively minor supervisory intervention may cause substantive changes in how police and citizens interact with each other.

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Crossref · 10.1111/1745-9133.12337

Cites

55 of 55 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Only two of the prior studies consider behavior in the community, and both use small samples.

    “Only two consider behavior in the community, and both of these use small samples (16, 18).”

    From Procedural justice training reduces police use of force and complaints against officers (2020) · cites this paper as [18]

  • Research points to desirable benefits from procedural justice policing, including heightened popular legitimacy, increased acceptance of police authority, and greater public cooperation with the police.

    “Research points to desirable benefits from this type of policing, including heightened popular legitimacy, increased acceptance of police authority, and greater public cooperation with the police (15–18).”

    From Procedural justice training reduces police use of force and complaints against officers (2020) · cites this paper as [18]

  • Owens et al. focus upon one-on-one training by a supervisor for officers engaging in civilian encounters in small geographic areas, or "hot spots," with high crime rates.

    “Further, Owens et al. (18) focus upon one-on-one training by a supervisor for officers engaging in civilian encounters in small geographic areas, or “hot spots,” with high crime rates.”

    From Procedural justice training reduces police use of force and complaints against officers (2020) · cites this paper as [18]

  • Owens et al. found that procedural justice training led to lower levels of use of force against people in the community among a group of Seattle police officers.

    “And Owens et al. (18) found that procedural justice training led to lower levels of use of force against people in the community among a group of Seattle police officers.”

    From Procedural justice training reduces police use of force and complaints against officers (2020) · cites this paper as [18]

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Authors
Owens, E., Weisburd, D., Amendola, K. L., & Alpert, G. P.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Irvine (US)
  • George Mason University (US)
  • National Policing Institute (US)
  • University of South Carolina (US)
Corresponding author
Owens, Emily
ORCID
Venue
Criminology & Public Policy
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2018-01-31
Volume
17
Issue
1
Pages
41-87
ISSN
  • 1538-6473 (ISSN-L)
  • 1745-9133
DOI
10.1111/1745-9133.12337
OpenAlex
W2789833667
Semantic Scholar
f4cb05e35311af666fcdb4e4e5c81d73d2bc685c
Cited by
111
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2
FWCI
45.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Criminology & Public Policy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Justice (2012-IJ-CX-0009)
  • National Science Foundation (0922005)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Policing Practices and Perceptions
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Law › Criminal Justice and Penology
Keywords
police-community relations, police use of force, public trust in police, police-citizen encounters, general deterrence, police supervision, crime reduction

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