Police legitimacy in Trinidad and Tobago: resident perceptions in a high-crime community

ABSTRACT

Violent crime in Trinidad and Tobago has increased over the last two decades, yet the police have been largely unsuccessful in reducing violence. Between 1999 and 2016, the murder rate increased by 475%. Despite the fact that the murder rate has increased, approximately 76 homicides are cleared each year, resulting in a low-homicide clearance rate. Using 40 semi-structured interviews with community members from a high-crime, low-income community in Trinidad and Tobago, this study examines residents’ experiences with police officers, and respondents’ willingness to work with the police to clear criminal cases. The results indicate that due to a lack of institutional trust, citizens are unwilling to trust and work collaboratively with most police officers. Policy implications from this research will be discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Trinidad and Tobago
• police legitimacy
• crime
• corruption

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Community members include the neighborhoods’ residents, frequent visitors, business owners, employees, religious leaders, etc.

2. The exchange rate between TT and the USA is 6.75 to 1. As such, Curtis claimed guns were being sold by officers for between $296 and $444 US.

3. Chenet Drive is a working-class community approximately 1.75 miles from Socaville.

4. Pomerac Road is a working-class community approximately 1 mile from Socaville.

Additional information

Funding

The author disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by North Central College under the Junior Faculty Enhancement Grant.

Notes on contributors

Ericka B. Adams

Ericka B. Adams, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Justice Studies at San José State University. Dr Adams has published in the areas of crime and deviance in Trinidad and Tobago crime control strategies implemented within underprivileged neighborhoods, as well as female substance abuse. Her current research interests center on the impact of violence on communities in Trinidad and Tobago, the exclusionary practices that accompany a criminal record, and whether criminal expungement transforms the lives of those who have been previously incarcerated.