Date of Conferral

7-2-2024

Date of Award

July 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Ali Banister

Abstract

Throughout the past decade, studies have shown that the relationship between police organizations and community members has developed mistrust as more citizens begin to document misconduct by law enforcement officers. Studies have also proven that community members trust the police when they feel the police are fair and just. Distrust of law enforcement undermines the legitimacy of police officers, and without this trust legitimacy, police officers lose their ability and authority to perform their jobs effectively. To help bridge the gap between minority communities and law enforcement agencies, this qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to examine the trust within law enforcement using the ecological systems theory. Data was collected by recruiting and interviewing 20 young minority adults aged 18 to 23 years of age in the Dallas, Texas, area. Interview questions were related to the participants’ perceptions regarding trust between law enforcement and what factors caused trust or mistrust. Analysis of the data collected led to the identification of three themes: (a) trust was built by close family members, (b) mistrust was built by the participant's social media awareness, and (c) mistrust was built by the participant’s awareness of historical events. The findings of this study have potential implications for a positive social change by increasing trust between minority communities and law enforcement, leading to less crime and fewer instances of police misconduct or excessive use of force.

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