Public opinion and satisfaction with state law enforcement

Purpose - Public opinion regarding the police is generally positive, although there are number of individual and contextual variables that affect these views. Yet research examining public perceptions regarding state law enforcement agencies (particularly state patrols) is rare. Design/methodology/approach - The paper utilizes a representative state-wide sample of state residents and examine their perceptions of the Colorado State Patrol (CSP). Findings - The paper finds positive views of the CSP overall and place particular emphasis on how individual, contextual, and contact-related variables affect opinions. Research limitations/implications - The study focusses on one state patrol and is not generalizable to all state patrols and to other forms of state law enforcement. Originality/value - The paper fills a void in the research on public opinion regarding state law enforcement and discuss similarities and differences in how they are viewed when compared to municipal agencies.