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ABSTRACT
Comparative analyses enable researchers to identify individual- and structural-level factors that influence the operations of the justice system that might not be evident when examining these indicators in a single nation. In this study, the factors associated with the public’s self-reported trust in thepolice were examined in 105 nations. We analysed the contributions of three theoretical propositions: social integration, democratic performance, and self-reported perceptions of crime. With respect to the structural factors, the public expressed the most trust in the police in nations with a greater adherence to the rule of law and a higher per capita gross domestic product. Citizens in countries perceived to be more corrupt were also less likely to believe their police were trustworthy. Inconsistent with expectations, individual-level factors, such as perceptions about crime, risks of being victimised, and prior histories of victimisation also exerted an influence on the public’s perceptions of trust. .
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
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Notes on contributors
Rick Ruddell
Rick Ruddell is Professor and Law Foundation of Saskatchewan Chair in Police Studies at the University of Regina. Prior to this appointment he served as Director of Operational Research with the Correctional Service of Canada and held faculty positions at Eastern Kentucky University and the California State University, Chico. Ruddell’s work focuses on criminal justice policy, policing, and rural crime and justice.
Kelsey Trott
Kelsey Trott is a graduate student at the University of Regina. He has worked in Canadian federal law enforcement for 16 years. He currently works in Serious and Organized Crime with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. His research interests are social and cognitive psychology with their applications and attitudes in the criminal justice system and policing.