Specific Roles and Responsibilities of the Police in Victim Assistance: Police Officers’ View
Purpose:
The purpose of this research was to assess police officers’ views and their current practice in dealing with victims and to test differences in their attitudes regarding their gender, personal experience of victimization and years of professional experience.
Design/Methods/Approach:
A questionnaire based on the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power was applied to two generations of police officers (N=155), who attended the victimology course. Descriptive statistics, discriminant analysis and chi-square test were used.
Findings:
Police officers mostly agree with good standards in treating victims’ rights. Discriminant analysis revealed no significant difference regarding police officers’ gender and personal experience of victimisation. Chi-square test revealed differences regarding years of professional experience in 3 of 31 analyzed items.
Research limitations:
The results are not generalizable since convenient sample was used. Another question to be considered is police officers’ attendance of the victimology course (although the questionnaire was carried out on the first class of students), which might lead police officers into giving socially desirable answers.
Practical implications:
This research gives valuable information to police strategic structures regarding the evaluation of the current practice and the creation of protocols and education programs.
Originality/Value:
This is the first research on this topic in Croatia. It gives insight into police officers’ views, and their current practice in treating victims.
UDC: 351.74/.76:343.988
Keywords: police officers, crime victims, attitudes, social expectations