The Chicano and the Law

Abstract

A case study of a Southern California barrio with a history of police conflict is used to test several hypotheses concerning fear of crime and of the police in relation to support for increasing or curtailing police power and protecting civil liberties. There was considerable diversity of attitudes toward the police, crime, and civil liberties. The hypothesis that fear of crime leads to increased support for police power was strongly supported by these Chicano respondents. A second hypothesis—that Chicanos who fear the police most are likely to favor the protection of civil liberties—received only limited support in our survey. Finally, there appeared to be strong support for the hypothesis that fear of the police among barrio residents is associated with desire to curtial police power. These findings suggest that even among a group of people such as Chicanos, who have been subjected to systematic police abuse and harassment, increases in the crime rate generally lead to greater support for increasing police power and limiting civil liberties, while fear of the police reduces support for police power and increases support for civil guarantees.