Youth perceptions of police and safety have gained the attention of researchers since the discussion surrounding police actions and their effects on community perceptions has increased. While prior research has mostly focused on adult perceptions of police and safety, youth perceptions have largely yet to be explored. Through a qualitative comparative analysis of 15 youth service providers (adults) and 22 youth interviews, this study explores how police may increase or decrease feelings of safety among youth and adults from a community of high-crime and high concentrated disadvantage. Prior literature highlights the impact procedural justice, police legitimacy, and overall perceptions of police have on feelings of safety. Much of this prior work found that age and community context have impacted perceptions of safety. Specifically noting that younger individuals and those from marginalized communities view the police more negatively. Current findings suggest that both youth and adults generally view the police as decreasing their feelings of safety, with a small subset of youth considering the police to increase their safety. While there may be minor differences in the reasoning as to why both groups feel the police are decreasing their safety, both youth and adults alike feel that police do not help keep them safe in their community.
Read
