Police Socialization: An Exploratory Study At the Academy Level

Using a self-administered questionnaire, data was gathered on perceptions of police trainee at three law enforcement training academies. Trainees were asked to describe their motivations for entering policing and their perceptions on many different aspects of law enforcement. The study is exploratory in nature with cross-sectional availability. Variables included in this study were career influences, perceptions on work environments, and attitudes on superiors, fellow recruits, and the public. This study hopes to broaden the limited body of research that exists on police socialization. The socialization process and history of law enforcement are discussed and recommendations for future research are provided