Effect of socialization factors on decisions to prosecute: The organizational adaptation of Scottish police recruits.

Abstract

Scottish police recruits rated the effect of various circumstances on decisions whether or not to take action against a hypothetical traffic offender. Ratings were obtained at induction (Basic group) and after one year’s service (Advanced group), both before and after training periods. Factor analysis showed a primary “in-group” factor before training, together with subsidiary “special cases” and “costs and benefits” factors, on all of which the Basic group was significantly more ready to take action. Factor analysis of the after-training responses showed that the primary factor was special cases, with subsidiary in-group and out-group factors. The Basic group was not significantly different from the Advanced group on the latter two, but was still more likely to take action against special cases. These results are discussed in terms of organizational socialization and professional culture.

Seeing themselves as others see them: Scottish police officers' metaperceptions of public opinion

“…The police service has often been seen as exhibiting a marked degree of in-group solidarity (Ellis, 1991;Fielding, 1986;Shernock, 1988;Stradling et al, 1993;Tuohy, et al, 1993;van Maanen, 1975). Perrot and Taylor (1994) discussed this issue of police ethnocentricity, however, and concluded that much of the evidence is indirect or anecdotal.…”

From Here On Out, We’re All Blue: Interaction Order, Social Infrastructure, and Race in Police Socialization

“…A third theme in the literature is that, while—or perhaps because—high-stress paramilitary training functions as a rite of passage into the elite world of policing. Much of its formal curriculum, especially the more progressive elements, do not hold up in the face of field training and the realities of the street (Buerger, 1998; Fielding, 1988; Sun, 2003a, 2003b; Tuohy, Wrennall, McQueen, & Stradling, 1993; Van Maanen, 1973; Wortley & Homel, 1995). Specifically, academy training has failed to advance the community- and problem-oriented philosophies of policing (Bradford & Pynes, 1999; Chappell, 2008; Cheurprakobkit, 2002; Haarr, 2001; Mastrofski & Ritti, 1996; Quinet, Nunn, & Kincaid, 2003; Traut, Feimer, Emmert, & Thom, 2000), ethics and discretion (Conti & Nolan, 2005; De Lint, 1998; Helsen & Starkes, 1999; Morgan, Morgan, Foster, & Kolbert, 2000), and diversity (Conti & Doreian, 2010).…”

Changes in self‐concept during occupational socialization of new recruits to the police

“…Fielding (1988) suggested that the formalclassroom-socialization of police recruits is persuasive as it provides the first 'encounter' with the organization, but that this effect quickly dissipates with increasing policing experience as informal socialization takes over. Tuohy et al (1993), studying changes in discretionary judgement during the probationary period, have argued that 'trainee police officers adjust to the perceived demands of the organization, and come to achieve ingroup occupational solidarity by adopting ingroup prac-tices and attitudes and shedding non-conformable aspects of individual identity'. They reported that both 'formal' classroom training periods and 'informal' street experience wrought changes both between and within ingroup and outgroup characterizations that informed professional judgements concerning discretionary action.…”