Police
Attitude
Questionnaire
developed by
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
P.O. Box 1408 Bethlehem PA 18016-1408 USA
phone 610/807-9791 fax 610/807-9745
www.restorativepractices.org
Police Attitudinal Survey
This survey was developed for the Bethlehem Restorative Policing Experiment. It is a combination of two
sets of scales reported reliable in previously published studies and two sets of scales found reliable in the Bethlehem
Experiment.
This survey is intended to be given as a pretest before implementing a change program, and again as a post-
test following at least 12 months later. Because police surveys traditionally have a poor response rate, pretest scores
need to be matched to an individual s posttest scores (repeated measure design). This is only possible if the respondent
is identified, by badge number. This is why the confidentiality statement is necessary, and should be signed by the
Police Chief and the Research Director prior to distribution. Response rate can be increased by distributing the
questionnaires during roll calls, and giving the time for them to be filled out before the officers assumed their
assignments. The Questionnaire can also be mailed or hand delivered to individual officers not present during the
roll calls.
The first set of scales is the 112-item Police Daily Hassles scales and the 82-item Police Uplifts scales. These
scales measure the positive and negative work-related experiences common to police officers, and were developed
from a systematic sample of 330 officers drawn from all ranks and work sections within the Victoria Police Department
in Australia. The construct validity of the scales was supported by a series of factor analyses and cross-validated on
a second sample of 404 police officers. Each of these scales was divided into operational and organizational items,
hassles and uplifts scales and specific item subscales.
Source:
Hart, P.M., Wearing, A.J. & Headey, B. (1993) Assessing police work experiences: Development of the police daily hassles and
uplifts scales. Journal of Criminal Justice. 21(6): 553-72.
Hart, P.M., Wearing, A.J. & Headey, B. (1994) Perceived quality of life, personality, and work experiences: Construct validation
of the police daily hassles and uplifts scales. Criminal Justice and Behavior. 21(3): 283-311.
The second set of scales used to measure changes in the police attitudes was taken from a study examining
factors influencing the attitudes of police officers toward their roles and communities. These scales were developed
with 761 officers employed by two large police departments in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
Source:
Brooks, L.W. Piquero, A. & Cronin, J. (1993) Police officer attitudes concerning their communities and their roles: A comparison
of two suburban police departments. American Journal of Police. 12(3): 115-39.
Five-point ordinal items measuring knowledge and support of family group conferencing for moderately
serious juvenile offenses were also included in the questionnaire. In addition, on the posttest questionnaire, there
were five-point ordinal items measuring support of family group conferencing for use with domestic dispute calls
and for moderately serious adult offenses. Two additional scales measuring exposure to conferencing and support
for conferencing were developed for the Bethlehem Experiment, which were both found to be reliable.
Source:
McCold, P. & Wachtel, B. (1998). Restorative Policing Experiment: The Bethlehem Pennsylvania Police Family Group
Conferencing Project. U.S. Dept. of Justice, National Institute of Justice. Washington DC: U.S. Govt. Printing Office. [NCJRS
177564 and #177565]
The following is a survey to measure the attitudes
and culture o f your d epartment. Your responses
to this questionnaire will b e held in the stricted
confidence and will not be revealed to police
administration. Your responses will only be used
for research p urposes a nd all i dentifying
information will be deleted upon completion of the
study.
Police Chief Research Director
T I A L
D E N
N F I
CO
badge number division position / rank
number of years in police service
age
number of years with the current department
number of years in current assignment
highest educational attainment
male
less than high school degree
female
high school degree
associate degree
bachelor degree
master degree
Please indicate the degree to which each experience listed below hassled or bothered you during
the past month as a result of police work.
definately definately
does not apply strongly applies does not apply strongly applies
to me to me to me to me
being responsible for others exams (for work purposes)
being told what to do by others excessive paperwork
‘bottling up’ my feelings feeling generally inadequate
complaints by the public feelings of having to conform to ‘pressure’ from peers
concerns about the status of police feelings of just being a number
court decisions being too lenient feelings of not being able to do anything
courts setting inconvenient dates giving bad news
dealing with abused children going on a raid
dealing with assault victims going to dangerous calls
dealing with parents having no say in decisions that affect me
dealing with other people’s problems having to make a forcible arrest
dealing with people who abuse the police heavy traffic
dealing with road victims hoax calls
delivering a death message inability to change the system
department handling of complaints inappropriate rules and regulations
difficulty staying objective (not expressing my emotions) inconsistent application of rules and policy
dirty mess rooms insufficient time to complete a job
disagreement about how to do something interference in my decisions by others
doing things I don’t agree with irregular meal times
doing work I don’t like handling juveniles
equipment failure lack of clarity in operational guidelines
police survey - page 1
hassles (continued)
definately definately
does not apply strongly applies does not apply strongly applies
to me to me to me to me
lack of equipment seeing other people in misery
lack of forward planning shift work interfering with other activities
lack of honesty about my work by superiors sitting around then suddenly active
lack of police powers station instability
low morale studying (for work purposes)
meeting deadlines taking a road accident report
missing meals too much expected of me
not being able to charge someone who is guilty too much red tape to get something done
not being able to get an admission from someone who is guilty too much supervision
not being able to speak my mind too much work to do
not receiving recognition for a job well done trying to show interest in people
other members not pulling their weight unfair promotional policy
outside interference with police work unfair rating system
personality clashes at work unnecessary forms
poor administration unreasonable expectations from others outside the department
poor drivers on the road untidy work areas
poor facilities wasting time in court
poor media coverage working with people who are inconsiderate
problems with co-workers working with people who are not suited for police work
quick change overs working with people who do not listen
responsibility without authority to make decisions working with people who lack professionalism
rushed eating
police survey - page 2
Please indicate the degree to which each experience below made you feel good as a result of police
work during the past month.
definately definately
does not apply strongly applies does not apply strongly applies
to me to me to me to me
achieving a heavy workload helpful supervision
application of rules and policy helping children
charging someone helping complainants
clarity of operational guidelines helping motorists
days off helping the public
delivering good news honesty about my work by superiors
equipment being available making tough decisions
equipment working making popular decisions
getting a good ‘pinch’ meeting deadlines
getting a good job obtaining an admission from a crook
getting a good result at court opportunity for promotion
getting along with peers other officers doing the right thing
getting things done personal reaction from other officers
going on a raid public showing interest in my work
going to good calls receiving a good performance rating
good facilities receiving a good promotions rating
good roster receiving thanks from the public
having a say in decisions accepting responsibility
having someone to turn to for help or advice results of my plans taking effect
shift work fitting in with other activities working hard
solving a problem working with good performers
sufficient time with family working with people I like
police survey - page 3
good feelings (continued)
definately definately
does not apply strongly applies does not apply strongly applies
to me to me to me to me
support for my work from my partner working with people who are considerate
tidy mess room working with people who know what they are doing
tidy work area working with people who listen
How much do you know about Family Group Conferences?
nothing heard about it a little quite a bit a great deal
What is your opinion of Family Group Conferences for moderately serious juvenile offenses?
strongly oppose oppose no opinion support strongly support
What is your opinion of Family Group Conferences for moderately serious adult offenses?
strongly oppose oppose no opinion support strongly support
What is your opinion of Family Group Conferences for responding to domestic dispute calls?
strongly oppose oppose no opinion support strongly support
Have you attended training for Family Group Conferences? no yes if yes, when?
month / year
Have you ever attended a Family Group Conference? no yes if yes, how many?
Have you ever conducted a Family Group Conference? no yes if yes, how many?
What percent of the citizens in your area are willing to: (1-100%)
call the police if they see something suspicious? _____
press charges in minor crimes? _____
press charges in serious crimes? _____
report a crime to police if they are victimized? _____
How would you rate the cooperation of the prosecutor's office with your department?
very poor inadequate adequate good outstanding
How would you rate the support of the local courts for your police department?
very poor inadequate adequate good outstanding
How would you rate the quality of police services provided by your police department?
very poor inadequate adequate good outstanding
How would the residents rate the quality of police services provided by your police department?
very poor inadequate adequate good outstanding
police survey - page 4
For each of the following statements, indicate whether you agree or disagree with each.
I would arrest a fellow officer for driving while intoxicated.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
I would give a fellow officer a speeding ticket.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
I would report a fellow officer for using unnecessary force (e.g. hitting, kicking, punching) when making an arrest.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
I would report a fellow officer for violating a citizen’s civil rights.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
If police officers act in a service capacity, this detracts from their ability to fight crime.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
If police officers in high crime areas had fewer restrictions on their use of force, many of the serious crime problems in those
neighborhoods would be greatly reduced.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Many of the decisions by the Supreme Court interfere with the ability of police to fight crime.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Most of the time the media treat police fairly.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Most people in Bethlehem lack the appropriate level of respect for police.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Most young people in Bethlehem respect police officers.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Patrol officers on the street are more effective if they are able to decide on their own when to enforce particular laws.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Police officers must sometimes use unethical means to accomplish enforcement of the law.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Police officers should assist citizens who are locked out of their cars.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
police survey - page 5
Police officers should assist sick or injured persons.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Police officers should be able to decide whether or not to enforce laws.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Police officers should be allowed to use chokeholds.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Police officers should be allowed to use stun guns.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Police officers should not have to handle calls that involve social or personal problems where no crime is involved.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Police officers would be more effective if they didn’t have to worry about ”probable cause” requirements for searching citizens.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Police should handle public nuisance problems.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Police should help settle family disputes.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Police should only be able to use deadly force when someone’s life is in danger.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Policing should be seen as a service organization.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Sometimes police are justified in using ”questionable practices” to achieve good ends.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
The likelihood of a police officer being physically assaulted in Bethlehem is very high.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
When a police officer is accused of using too much force, only other police officers are qualified to judge.
strongly disagree disagree no opinion agree strongly agree
Thank you for completing this questionnaire. Your opinion does matter.
police survey - page 6
