Assessing Black Criminal Justice Students Perception: Exposure to Unjustified Police Killings

 

 Abstract

This paper assesses black criminal justice student’s perception in regards to exposure to unjustified police homicides. In 2016, eight -hundred and seventy-two citizens were killed by police officers and two -hundred and two black people were killed out of those citizens. The purpose of this study, is to focus on law enforcement agencies to improve their policies to implement law enforcement as a safe career to join for minorities. More specifically, graduating criminal justice students. This is necessary due to they are potentially prospective law enforcement officers. This study proposes two general hypotheses. The first one is African Americans will have more negative perceptions than their counterparts these major findings will confirm my hypothesis. The variables in this study are distinguished as Independent and dependent. The independent variable is unjustified homicides. The dependent variable is race and major. The research technique to collect the data uses a quantitative approach. Moreover, a questionnaire will be used to measure the data by asking students about the top headlined police killings that has occurred. This study will help improve the work of the criminal justice system by improving the relationship between law enforcement officers and citizens and implementing better policies in law enforcement to deter from a wrongful death during encounters with citizens.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                             Table of Contents

 

 

Chapter 1: Introduction........................................................................................................ 1

            Statement of the Problem........................................................................................ 2

            Purpose of the Study................................................................................................ 3

            Background and Justification.................................................................................. 4

Chapter 2: Literature Review.............................................................................................. 5

            History of issue........................................................................................................ 6           

Theoretical Framework........................................................................................... 7

            Empirical Research ................................................................................................. 8

            Strengths and Weaknesses....................................................................................... 9

            Significance of the Study...................................................................................... 11           

Chapter 3: Methodology.................................................................................................... 12

            Hypothesis............................................................................................................. 13

            Audience................................................................................................................ 14

            Participants............................................................................................................ 14

            Measurements and Variables................................................................................. 15

            Instruments............................................................................................................ 16            Procedures            16

            Research Questions............................................................................................... 17

            Data Analysis......................................................................................................... 18

            Limitations............................................................................................................. 19

            Ethical Considerations........................................................................................... 20

 

            Introduction

            On September 20, 2016, a man by the name of Terrence Crutcher was killed by a Tulsa, Oklahoma law enforcement officer. Furthermore, Terrence Crutcher was a 40- year old black man who was waiting to get service for his car when he was treated as a criminal. The day before this tragedy another black man by the name of Keith Lamar Scott 43- years old was killed by Charlotte police searching for an unrelated suspect (Mckay, 2016). As of today September 22, 2016, this year alone 790 citizens have been killed by law enforcement in the United States. (Blau, Jason, & Shoichet, 2016).  African American scholars balance their teaching, research responsibility, and lived experience with the urgent need to address the racial inequality and violence that has distinguished black life.

            Acknowledging student’s perceptions on injudicious decisions by the people who say they are going to protect and serve this country is a part of education. Researchers has demonstrated repeatedly how people of color are often discriminated against, as well as recent shootings in Falcon Heights, Baton Rouge, and Dallas. Moreover, students of color who are educated has witnessed these events from social media, the news, or even participated in marches in their own cities. The witnessing of these tragedies is damaging the perceptions and judgment of many students. For example, Michael Brown an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed on Aug 9, 2014, by Darren Wilson. When the announcement was said Mr. Wilson would not be indicted it embarked another wave of protesters in the city and at many black colleges. Protesters at Howard University stood together with their hands raised, a universal sign of surrender. Saadiq a student at Howard University stated “I hate to say it but, this is just repetitive. It’s nothing new the lives of African Americans are not valued in this nation. It’s time to make changes happen.”  Another from Howard Law school stated “Even though our suits and ties don’t make us any less of a target, we are the next generation of lawyers and legal architects as we think about dismantle the systematic barriers to equal opportunity” (Atkinson, 2014).  The effect of police homicides affects the mindset of a black educators who has a desire in law enforcement or any part of the law and it discourages them to think will they even be accepted as a professional African American. Therefore, it is imperative to analyze the exposure to unjustified police killings through the lens of a black scholar.

            Statement of the Problem

Citizens rely on police officers to maintain order and enforce the law. Police homicides towards more minority culture deters that reliance. The lack of no arrest or convictions from no police officer shooting has been the biggest effect on minority communities. Violence in many communities will continue if unjustifiable shootings continue to happen. This paper will examine criminal justice student’s and different ethnicities perception of black citizens armed or unarmed are significantly more likely to be killed by police and how it effects criminal justice major college student’s judgment and belief. However, through my research I will examine and expose the knowledge and perception of black scholars on what they morally believe was right. I will measure student’s perceptions from the five most headlined police brutality cases. As well as their perception on the verdicts on homicide cases on black people by law enforcement. The purpose of this study is to expose the perceptions of black students to compare and measure their knowledge on homicides by law enforcements to help enforce better policies in the law enforcement field. Therefore, considering black educator’s perceptions to strengthen law enforcement policies is necessary.

            Background and Justification

It is not rare for a law enforcement officer to be disliked by the public. Many unjustified killings and harassments supports this statement. Moreover, in 2015, a young college student by the name of Martese Johnson was beaten brutally by Charlottesville Police Department. Martese tragedy stemmed from law enforcement asking was he carrying his identification card. According to Martese he showed them his identification and yet they assumed it was fake (Johnson, 2015). Disorderly conduct has been strongly linked to negative views toward the police. In addition, these are the effects to influence a black college student to less likely trust the police and even put into a demoralized state of mind.

 Since Black educators are tomorrow police officers, and could possibly be the victim of a police officer. Their cognizance is vital in evaluating the future of the criminal justice system as it pertains to reducing misconduct (Davis, 2014). It should be acknowledged black individuals who study material to become a person to protect and serve yet, realize their race is the most often targeted and killed by police officers. The decisions of future black colleagues can rely on their perceptions of the verdicts and decisions of what the law is allowing today is essential. Many could say one of the greatest struggles faced by African Americans in the United States has been the struggle to be educated.

This struggle has been guided by elder black scholars who believed that without struggle there was no progress.  Education is now, and always has been, a vital weapon in the black culture. Essentially, African Americans used education as their primary source of ammunition in the fight against a segregated society, racism, illiteracy, and poverty (Walter, 1992).

 

 

            Purpose of study

Previous publicity proposes there are variables which affect and individual’s perspective towards unjustified police homicides. This study will examine the relevant factors associated with black scholar’s attitudes towards decisions made in previous police misconduct cases and ethics. Moreover, it aims to determine which factors may improve future generation’s perceptions of police. Additionally, this study will expose the knowledge and awareness of black scholars on homicide cases by police officers. This study is guided by four research questions:

1. What are the primary indicators that best explain African American student perceptions of unjustified police homicides?
2. To what extent does social media, radios and television influence black student’s perceptions about outcomes to justified homicides by law enforcement?
3. If black students do discern justified police homicides to be a growing concern, to what degree are these perceptions related with future implications of policing?
4. Do African American students perceive police homicides as a growing concern within contemporary police departments?

                                                                Literature Review

McLaughlin (2015) suggest In the American national context, police normally utilize lethal force against male blacks at a level that is particularly 20 times higher when compared in contradiction of that of the white males. The media, in particular, has exposed a number of instances of the unjustified killing that are facilitated by police officers in the most recent years but the issues are still persistent. While it might appear as if the rate of this events is on the rise, it is revealed by research that the commonness of police misbehavior is not growing. In dissimilarity, it is the increasing media coverage that is permitting Americans to understand the severance of the issue of police misbehavior and its rate of occurrence. Based on the American justice department, police misbehavior is best described as the application of excess force, illegal searches, arrests, intentional arrests based on falsified intentions resulting in the general freedom loss.  His offenses are severe and their continuity in the American society is also worrying.  Based on Jefferis, Butcher & Hanley (2011) in 2011 the cases of police misbehavior that were recorded totaled to 4861.  From the report close to 25 percent of the cases represented the use of extreme force, misbehavior 10% unlawful arrest 7 % and fraud 10 % were the most reported cases (Jefferis, Butcher & Hanley, 2011).

Based on the severity of the unjustified killing in America that can best be classified as misconduct, it is essential to consider the consequences of this behavior (Dowler & Zawilski, 2007). It is rather unfortunate that police officers are not subjected to similar accountability standards as the public. This lack of substantial accountability has caused long-run effects on the public’s and student’s perception and has thus created an undesirable attitude toward the law enforcers particularly among the black community. All aspects are taken to account it is apparent that the growing use of extreme force and the unjustified killings by law enforcers has greatly affected the perception of black American students (Miller & Davis, 2008).

The increased killing will continue to generate negative perceptions on the black American criminal justice students in regard to the effectiveness of the system. Everyone expects that the American law enforcers should be there to guard lives and individual’s rights which is rather contrary to what is happening (Weitzer & Tuch, 2004). This trend will create a prospective future enforcers officials who are fully biased on the grounds or race due to the impression that the current enforcers are generating. There is an epidemic of police unjustified shooting against innocent and unarmed black American men. Young black people are in constant nature being harassed and in routine cases brutalized with impunity despite the fact that they have not engaged in the disruption of the law (Williams & Dingwall, 2014). Racial profiling is not a criminal justice problem but a social one as well that is bound to affect the perception and the performance of the system in the long run. Law enforcers are expected to portray the most positive practices to the upcoming officers who are yet to graduate but if the shooting trend is allowed to prevail then it means that the Fresh Jim Crow’s era will arise (Weitzer & Tuch, 2004).

Racism has saturated the United States justice system an aspect that will be passed to the perspective of the upcoming professions. Weitzer & Tuch (2004) argues that it is the same profiling that is accountable for keeping thousands of African Americans in prison while hundreds of them are dying close to every year. It is rather evident that the increasing rate of unjustified shootings and high incarceration of the minority groups that racial profiling and discernment still exist. In other words, the current system is a reflection of the previous Jim Crow era but this one is more customized (Williams & Dingwall, 2014). It is the fights against criminality that have in turn fueled the general profiling and unjustified killings. In America, the increasingly negative perception has led to increased deaths and undesirable perceptions against the law enforcers by the black criminal justice students and their respective community. By classifying the majority of young black men as offenders even though they have not engaged in any crime, then the law enforcers have successfully created a system that embraces discernment against the black community.  It is the global racism that has rather resulted in protests by the public among the black person's something that can never be taken lightly. Based on the recent statistics more than 4000 people from the black community have been killed unjustly despite the fact that they were unarmed and not confirmed to have engaged in any form of crime (Williams & Dingwall, 2014).

Zwach, (2015) notes, that it is rather apparent that after slavery was abolished, it never ended as black people are being subjected to unfair killings which are not only a violation of their right to live but also the right to be prosecuted in a just and fair setting. Despite being killed without any probable rationale they are being arrested on charged that are false in the quest of pressuring them to get into a more fresh form of slavery which is incarceration and death. Racial profiling and the negative perception of the black community have joined forces to ensure that the unjust practices are not accounted and that the affected community is never able to free itself (Jefferis, Butcher & Hanley, 2011). It is saddening to note that for the black criminal justice students this trend will only create conflicting interest based on the negative perception that they have acquired against the system and the white community for fighting consistently against their wellness.

Van Craen, (2013) argues that the fact that the white privilege is still utilized in judging those that deserves incarceration and shooting shows that in America racism is rather a dominating force primarily in the criminal justice system. Black Americans are two times exposed to police killings as compared to the whites. It is highly agreed by research that racism mainly plays part in the whole issue of disparity and the consistent killings (Jefferis, Butcher & Hanley, 2011). However, the term itself is very extensive a justification to disclose much in regard to the more primary causes or to establish and reduce the outcomes of the increasing killings of young black people such as the most recent ones in Minnesota and Louisiana (Jefferis, Butcher & Hanley, 2011). Studies that have engaged in investigating the issue have maintained that racism has planted itself in the system is rather a distinct way which thus necessitates customizes sets of solutions.

Barthelemy, Chaney, Maccio, & Church, (2016) highlights that, When disparity occurs based on bias among the national police officers, it becomes more probable for them to turn to firing guns at blacks over the whites despite the fact that they all pose similar threats. In this context, the solution is to adjust the recruitment system to ensure that the upcoming officers are more objective. In addition, more training and accountability are necessary measures as bias develops over time and should be tested on an often basis and training them how to avoid discernment and those that resist change should be dismissed. However the current shooting disparity that is rather fueled by universal practices by police officers which have led to the development of discernment among individual’s officers and thus those practices should be altered (Williams & Dingwall, 2014). Violently is unacceptable and thus the practice that the system is trying to create is offensive not only to the black students but also to the American community in general.

For Chalabi (2016) there relatively more interaction among the black community with police officers based on the notion that black people normally conduct a more extensive share of all the reported criminalities. However, it is due to the rate of unemployment and poverty that such a prevalence has existed but this should not be assumed of every black person. Stating that racial profiling severs a primary role in regard to the increased shootings as compared to the average cannot be taken that it is the case in all instances where police officers are involved in unjust shootings (Williams & Dingwall, 2014). For instance in the recent among those that were killed in a shooting were alleged shooters in an event that led to the loss of five officers. In this case, it is rather clear that police are equipped with the necessary training to utilize deadly force when required to guard themselves and the public. However, this power can never be utilized to shoot at innocent people based on personal perception or prejudice (Williams & Dingwall, 2014).

Chalabi, 2016) asserts that, however, it should be noted that there are others who believe that the notion that Black individuals are shot unjustly is wrong and the shooting is not fueled by racial profiling but by crime disparities. In that, actually a randomly targeted black American is not likely to become a victim of violence and despite the fact that for the whites it occurs in a minimal state the differences are consistent with crime differences and racial holes in regard to the engagement in fierce crimes (Chalabi, 2016). This, therefore, suggest that race has less to do with the increased killings. The increasing profiling is mainly being triggered by the media which has thus poisoned the association between law enforcers and the black community in the country. In fact, this perception has even distracted the administrators and enforcers from the severe issues that are faced by the black community.

Factors That Impacts the Perception of Police Officers and Criminal Justice Student

According to McLaughlin, (2015) Research has consistently addressed the factors that affect the perception of police officers against black people in reference to being perceived as criminals such as demographics, race, gender, neighborhood, age, and race. It is mainly believed that race is the leading factor as for most black people are more likely to commit crimes. White’s students and the public are said to own the least undesirable perception in regard to policing and they are not likely to acknowledge the fact that the misbehaviors of the law enforcers occur in most cases, for instance, unjust killings or extreme use of force (Miller & Davis, 2008). In contrast to the black community and black criminal justice students have the highest negative perceptions towards policing and the effectiveness of the system. It is the same community that is highly dissatisfied with the increasing shootings stating that race is the most vital factor that leads to the growth of the notion. It is suggested that the racial hierarchy theory can be utilized to explain the differences. In that, the theory proposes that there the white community hold the most favorable perception of policing and are highly likely to reduce police misbehavior while the blacks hold minimal desirable perception in regard to policing and therefore, hold that police misbehavior is more dominant against blacks over whites (Miller & Davis, 2008).

    Young black men from the low socio-economic neighborhoods are more affected by the prejudice (Dowler & Zawilski, 2007). For the young students, their perception is rather negative as they view the increasing killings as a mode that only promotes wellness of one race. Police officers on the other hand highly believe that young individuals are more likely to participate in crimes due to their unemployment issue. Students believe that this perception is not based on age but it is the race that fuels the perception (Dowler & Zawilski, 2007). They tend to believe that because they originate from less superior neighborhoods that are characterized by minor crimes then they are classified as criminals. To them, most of the crimes are fueled by the increased unemployment rate thus the need to survive creates pressure to engage in crime. Social order and neighborhood affect the perception of individuals since those from the middle urban and rural areas tend to have the most positive perception of police (Dowler & Zawilski, 2007).

    Based on McLaughlin, (2015) contrary, those from the poor urban settings hold the most undesirable views. It can never, therefore, be assumed that the neighborhoods only creates criminals. In regard to gender, it is apparent that gender can directly affect the perception of students and the public about police. To start with, females are unlikely to own unfavorable views of police when compared to black male students. Similarly, in a study conducted by Miller & Davis, (2008) it was proven that for men the lawfulness and legality of the shooting and incarceration are not justified contrary to women. Those that are more exposed to media coverage and direct experiences with the brutality are not likely to view police positively. In other words, it is apparent that the increasing brutality has resulted in increased negative perception amongst the black criminal justice students and community (Miller & Davis, 2008). For them, the shootings are mainly fueled by racial discernment as their race is considered to be inferior and highly involved in criminalities (Miller & Davis, 2008). This, however, has a negative effect on individuals in general since the next general of law enforcers is bound to experience working interest conflict as they might not know whether they should adhere to their roles or their motive of guarding the black community against killings and unlawful sentencing.

            History of the Issue

The history on police killings of black people has been unceasing. Many researchers have found that police are more likely to kill African Americans than Caucasians. According to researcher Josue Zapata, he suggests policing in America started as a racial project. Modern policing was first established in the North and South of the United States. This author advocates it wasn’t until the first “passed laws” were established and patrols targeted mostly enslaved Africans. Police Historians have concluded patrolling was established by slave patrols. (Zapata, 2016) This author developed a repository of statistics. For example, he found that African American males are 21 times more like than their white counterparts to be killed by police. Moreover, a white police officer killed a black person two times a week ending in 2012. However, this statistic is interesting because according to Kwaisi Frances he conducted numerous studies on the relationship between law and enforcement and the black community.

 This author reviews the long and persistent history between the police and African Americans (Frances, 2014). They discovered the same as researcher Zapata, slave patrols were first established in South Carolina in 1704, and it became an epidemic throughout the colonies. Frances suggest putting a microscope on lynching, Jim Crow, Civil rights movement, war on drugs, and stop and frisk will be the key to unlocking the meaning behind protest and how black communities and law enforcement resolve issues.  When researching, lynching became a threat used to torture blacks and manage the new social order that has been constructed. The second study of the relationship was analyzing Jim Crow’s laws. In the 1890’s Jim Crow laws became effective. These laws were enforced to use terror and lynching to conduct unwritten laws to show black people white people has majority all power. Frances also examined the civil rights movement and found that African Americans still toady and back then believed in they earned the right to be treated as full citizens because of their sacrifices. In 1946, organizations like the NAACP established a national interracial commission (Frances, 2014).

            Theoretical Framework

Williams and Murphy defines the history of policing by law enforcement officers and black communities as “troubled” and also question the professionalism of police organizations (William & Murphy, 2012). Their studies agreed with previous researchers that historical realities have shaped distrustful and hostile relationship between police and minority citizens. In 1993 African Americans were represented in majority of the police departments. However, police still struggled to protect minority communities. On the other hand, (Pickett & Gabe, 2007) defines history of policing as “continuance of racism”. While many studies focus on law enforcement and African Americans relationship they focus on actually policing the black communities.  They focus on finding a solution to the growing crisis. Researchers suggest because of the mass black incarceration putting a microscope on how the black communities and youth are being policed (Pickett & Gabe, 2007).  The definition of Pickett & Gabe will be used in the current study, given the importance of perception. This meshes well figuring out whether or not it is imperative to use a black college student perceptions on finding a solution to policing in black communities.  Although William & Murphy (like Pickett & Gabe) say policing in black communities has created a hostile relationship between police and minorities however, black people receiving jobs in law enforcement doesn’t stop the discrimination and deaths in black communities.  A solution to these issues are needed. The definition of Pickett & Gabe is therefore more relevant to the current study.

 

Empirical Research

             Dependent Variable

            The study’s dependent variable (“unjustified homicides”) was measured using a five point Likert scale. The scale ranged from strongly agree and strongly disagree. The dependent variable (race and major) will. Pickett and Gabe, (2007) suggest the problem associated with these tragedies are the policies within the police agencies. Nevertheless, this dependent variable aims to uncover the components that predicts black college student’s cognizance towards police homicides on African Americans will have more negative perceptions about law enforcement than other races. 

            Independent Variable

There has been numerous perception variables (race) in this study that aims to identify the differences in the respondent’s awareness to the issues that has been brought before them on the news, in class, television, radio, and etc.  In this study the most popular headlined homicides by law enforcement was measured by asking respondents to specify the extent to which they agree or disagree using the cases of the victims of the unjustified homicides: “Do you (1= strongly agree or 5= strongly disagree) with Sandra Bland verdict?” This will allow the researcher to effectively measure their level of comprehension and awareness to verdicts and homicides of those killed by law enforcement.

Strengths and Weaknesses

            Strengths

            The strengths of these findings will be finding out the knowledge of black criminal justice college students on their own concerns with police misconduct. The perception of a black college student’s opinion on whether or not policing in the law enforcement agencies needs new policies.

            Weaknesses

            The exposure of unarmed killings by law enforcement officers deters students from navigating successfully in their future careers. Researcher’s impressions that black inferiority and a lack of real accountability drive the train of police brutality in the black community. The continuance of black communities being treated unequally has been the hindrance on black culture for many decades.

            Significance of Study

            The study of black criminal justice student’s perception on unjustified homicides by law enforcement can help change police policies in repairing the relationship of police officers and black communities. The projects goal is designed to help the future generations of black culture. Moreover, to help law enforcement agencies improve their policies to implement law enforcement as a safe career to join for black college students who are graduating college who can be law enforcement officer’s tomorrow.  The research question still remains “Do African American students perceive police homicides as a growing concern within contemporary police departments?” African Americans find unarmed black people being killed by law enforcement often is definitely a concern to the black community.

            Methodology

My overall design of my project will take a quantitative approach, meaning that I will use a formal, objective, systematic process where data is revealed by my hypothesis.  However, because the relationship does not manipulate the variables the approach to this research will be correlation. This approach is necessary because the relationship between race and major in regards to the people in these specific categories will have different perceptions on the unjustified homicides. Moreover, the goal of this research is to reveal the hypothesis of my research and show the different perceptions of unjustified homicides.                

            Hypothesis

In this study, there are two theories predicted. The first, is African Americans students will have more negative perceptions of unjustified homicides by law enforcement than their counterparts. This was suggested due to African Americans are more likely to be killed by police officers than the opposite race. Moreover, research proves African Americans who has encounters with police are more likely to be freighted. The second is, Criminal Justice students will have more negative perceptions of unjustified homicides by police officers than other major. This was proposed because black criminal justice students understand the code and ethics of the criminal justice system and the challenges African Americans face today with law enforcement.  Their perception of law enforcement officers is necessary for this discovery. However, there is no relationship between the opposite race and unjustified homicides as well as there is no relationship with unjustified homicides and other major other than criminal justice. There is no effect on students outside of the criminal justice major.

Audience

            The primary target audience would be law enforcement agencies that develop policies in these departments. Proving my hypothesis true will allow a solution to what is being implemented in this study. It is imperative to discuss the following with these specific individuals because as stated before this project goal is to design to help the future generations of black culture. Moreover, this audience needs to understand repairing the relationship between law enforcement officers and black communities is necessary. This paper does not aim to focus on police brutality but to put a microscope on the unjustified homicides and how we can implement better policies for future generations of the criminal justice system. In all, I want my audience to see the study as useful to creating a better sub culture for police officers as well as the African American community.

            Participants

            The participants in this study will be majority college students of every race to make the hypothesis come true. These participants will be students from different backgrounds as well as diverse organizations. Moreover, each individual by will participate by choice of this experiment. The target population and the sample that will be used is a survey amongst these individuals. Moreover, these participants will be randomly selected to remove any potential influences. The participants were chosen from observing local areas. In this research the most headlined homicides by law enforcement will be conveyed in this research. Participants will answer questions on these headlines to determine the hypothesis.

            Measurements and Variables

            In this study the measurement will be based on a survey questionnaire on an ordinal scale to determine the policies that should be implemented in police departments to help reconstruct the encounters with African Americans. Moreover, it will to help those African American students who are criminal justice major to help the future generations of black culture. Moreover, to help law enforcement agencies improve their policies to implement law enforcement as a safe career to join for black college students who are graduating college. After the questionnaire, I will measure the responses from the participants about the unjustified homicides. Their responses will show they either strongly disagree, strongly agree, agree or disagree. Now, whether they agree or disagree to the survey questions will determine the hypothesis. The variables used in this study are independent variable which is unjustified homicides the dependent variable is race and major.

            Instruments

In this study a questionnaire will be used as an instrument as well as case studies. The top headlined unjustified cases by law enforcement will be used in this questionnaire. The respondents are the population samples of the study. The answers provided by the respondents constitutes the data collection. Six questions will address the relationship between race and the remaining will examine

• The verdict of Sandra Bland was constitutional.
• Trayvon Martin case was justified by the physical components of the case.
• George Zimmerman being exonerated was constitutional.
• I agree with the state on Eric Garner case.
• Rodney King rights 4^th amendment was violated.
• Officer Wilson did his job in good faith which led Michael Brown to be killed.
• It was "reasonable" to believe the officer who killed the boy believed Tamir Rice was a threat.
• The “no true bill” should be abolished due to the exoneration of Officer Daniel Patelo in the Eric Garner Case.
• In order to prevent crime and catch criminals, the police are sometimes required to bend the law.
• Only the police can control crime in the U.S.

            The procedures for gathering data will be getting the students from colleges who major in criminal justice, sociology, business, mass communications, English, math, political science and other majors. Again, this will be a random selected procedure when choosing the students. Students will identify their age, race, and major in this procedure. The procedure analyzing the data will be looking at the different race and major and the response to the answers will determine the hypothesis. However, this know introductory letter in this procedure.

            Research Questions

Additionally, this study will expose the knowledge and awareness of black scholars on homicide cases by police officers. This study is guided by four research questions:

• What are the primary indicators that best explain African American student perceptions of unjustified police homicides?
• To what extent does social media, radios and television influence black student’s perceptions about outcomes to justified homicides by law enforcement?
• If black educators do perceive justified police homicides to be a growing concern, to what degree are these perceptions related with future implications of policing?
• Do African American students perceive police homicides as a growing concern within contemporary police departments?

            Data Analysis

            The data analysis was will show that the hypothesis is true and accurate. The variables used in this study are independent variable which is unjustified homicides the dependent variable is race and major. In this study four research questions are asked. The first research question is: what are the primary indicators that best explain African American student perceptions of unjustified police homicides? This question is essential in this study because the measurement will come from assessing African Americans as well as other ethnicities to determine the hypothesis.  Indicators to revealing African American perception on unjustified homicides are the protest, and marches they have when a homicide occurs by a law enforcement officer. The second research question is significant to the study because social media, radio, and the news has influences on how citizens think and how they retain their information. However, how a student retained the information of the homicides will determine the data analysis. The third research question is related improving the future generation policing. The fourth question is to focus on all police departments to determine whether the data shows more negative perceptions to determine if it’s a growing concern.

            Limitations

            The limitations in this study will be students not being aware and knowledgeable about the unjustified homicides because they wouldn’t be able to say whether or not they or agree or don’t disagree which this can hinder my research due to the fact it can influence my hypothesis to be not true or relevant.

Ethical Considerations and Confidentiality

            Participants in criminal justice research usually are respondents who are asked to disclose information about themselves or what there knowledgeable about in the criminal justice system. In this experiment participant’s information is confidential and will remain unknown to the public and authorities. Considerations of topic will ensure the confidentiality of the respondents and the criminological study.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessing Black Criminal Justice Students Perception: Exposure to Unjustified Police Killings

Questionnaire: Daytona State College, Bethune Cookman University, Embry Riddle

Date: ________                     

Section 1: Background Information

1. Please indicate city of Daytona Beach
2. Gender: Female            Male
3. Ethnic origin (please check only one):

 African American/Black not Hispanic           Caucasian/White not Hispanic

 Asian or Pacific Islander or Filipino  American Indian/Alaskan Native     

 Hispanic/ Latino                                            Multi/Mixed-Race

 Other: __________________________

 

4. Please state your college major:

 (Please check one):

Section 2: Perceptions of unjustified homicides (please circle one):

SA= strongly agree, A= agree, N= neither agree nor disagree, D= disagree, SD= strongly disagree

            SA         A         N         D         SD

1. The verdict of Sandra Bland was constitutional.          1            2          3          4          5       
2. Trayvon Martin case was justified

by the physical components of the case.                                1            2          3          4          5

 

 

3. George Zimmerman being exonerated was constitutional 1 2   3          4          5
4. Police officers enjoy kicking people around          1            2          3          4          5       
5. Rodney King rights 4th amendment was violated. 1   2          3          4          5
6. Officer Wilson did his job in good faith

Which led Michael Brown to be killed.                                  1            2          3          4          5

7. It was "reasonable" to believe the officer

 Who killed the boy believed Tamir Rice was a threat.         1           2          3          4          5

 

8. Only the police can control crime in the U.S.             1            2          3          4          5
9. The “no true bill” should be abolished due to

  The exoneration of Officer Daniel Patelo

  In the Eric Garner Case.                                                       1            2          3          4          5

10. In order to prevent crime and catch criminals, the

      Police are sometimes required to bend the law                1            2          3          4          5

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

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Chalabi, M. (2016). Reality Check: Study Finds No Racial Bias In Police Shootings. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/news/reality-check/2016/jul/11/study-finds-no-racial-bias-police-shootings-data

Dowler, K., & Zawilski, V. (2007). Public perceptions of police misconduct and discrimination: Examining the impact of media consumption. Journal of Criminal Justice, 35 (2), 193-203. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.stthomas.edu/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2007.01.006

Jefferis, E., Butcher, F., & Hanley, D. (2011). Measuring perceptions of police use of force. Police Practice & Research, 12(1), 81-96. doi:10.1080/15614263.2010.497656

McLaughlin, E. (2015). We're Not Seeing More Police Shootings, Just More News Coverage. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/20/us/police-brutality-video-social-media-attitudes/index.html

Miller, J., & Davis, R. C. (2008). Unpacking public attitudes to the police: Contrasting perceptions of misconduct with traditional measures of satisfaction. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 10(1), 9-22. doi:10.1350/ijps.2008.10.1.9

Van Craen, M. (2013). Explaining Majority And Minority Trust In The Police. Justice quarterly, 30(6), 1042-1067. doi:10.1080/07418825.2011.649295

Weitzer, R., & Tuch, S. A. (2004). Race and perceptions of police misconduct. Social Problems, 51(3), 305-325. doi:10.1525/sp.2004.51.3.305

Williams, J. & Dingwall, R. (2014). Symbolic interactionism. Encyclopedia of social deviance pp. 723-726. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications Ltd. doi: 10.4135/9781483340470.n289

Zwach, S. (2015). Disproportionate use of deadly force on unarmed minority males: How gender and racial perceptions can be remedied. Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society, 30(2), 185-222.