Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the guardian mindset as a means for improving police-community relations. Using data collected from 735 new officers in the USA, confirmatory factor analyses were used to evaluate the empirical validity of the guardian vs. warrior typology, and structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationships among the guardian mindset and outcomes believed to improve relations with the public. The results show that officers’ attitudes about the community and communication styles, but not attitudes about the role of the police, differentiate a guardian from a warrior orientation. The results also show that a higher-order guardian factor was related to attitudes about the use of force, procedural justice, and de-escalation. The findings provide some support for the positive effects of a guardian mindset on improving police-community relations while at the same time raising important questions for further study.
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Data Availability
Researchers can access the dataset used in this study by completing a Restricted Data Use Agreement with the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/pages/NACJD/index.html).
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Funding
The research leading to these results received funding from the National Institute of Justice under grant agreement no. 2008-DN-BX-0005.
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Schuck, A.M. Exploring the Guardian Mindset as a Strategy for Improving Police-Community Relations. J Police Crim Psych 39, 82–92 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-023-09617-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-023-09617-y