CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTITIONERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THEMSELVES, EACH OTHER, AND SELECTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTICES

ABSTRACT

This study describes the perceptions of judges, prosecutors, police officers, and probation officers of themselves, each other, and selected criminal justice practices. Judges and police officers perceived themselves more positively than they perceived the other criminal justice practitioners while probation officers and prosecutors did not see themselves as the most positive group. Police officers were the most negatively perceived, and judges the most positively. The police group indicated the strongest opposition to early parole of offenders and Supreme Court rulings, while judges and probation officers were generally more favorable toward such criminal justice practices. All groups indicated that communication and cooperation between criminal justice components is inadequate. The research suggests that inadequate communication and cooperation between practitioners and components can be the result of negative attitudes based on misperceptions.