Enhancing Law Enforcement Efficiency and Judgment Accuracy

Presenter Information

Kristin Mansky, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU 201

Start Date

25-4-2005 8:30 AM

End Date

25-4-2005 10:00 AM

Student's Major

Psychology

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Kevin J. Filter

Mentor's Department

Psychology

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

A controversial and challenging issue within law enforcement is stereotyping and profiling. Profiling stems from actual observable behavior demonstrated while stereotypes derive from internal perceptions of an individual or group. The purpose of the present study was to distinguish the use of non-racial cues versus racial cues amongst law enforcement and non-law enforcement students. Each participant in this study observed a computer image and chose which action the man in the picture was doing from a list of choices. Each of the participants filled out demographic information, and completed a survey involving race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Law enforcement students completed an extra portion of answering questions relating to their field. The results of the experiment were determined by examining the relationship between law enforcement students who have received education and training in police efficiency and judgment accuracy to non-law enforcement students who have not received any proper education and training in this field. Results will be discussed in terms of implications for training law enforcement officers.