Ethnicity, region, and public fiscal commitment to policing

Abstract

Based on a study of all cities of 25,000 or more in population size, the research described in this paper investigates the response of the urban fiscal policing commitment to the visibility of those ethnic groups categorized as Hispanic by the U.S. Census. Although the funding requests of police officials may be based on sound professional judgement, the public nature of the budgetary process paves the way for non-professional criteria to play a role in the determination of the final level of financing. The results of the multivariate analysis indicate that the relative size of the Hispanic populations is a significant predictor of the level of policing expenditures in cities in the South and the West, even after the role of the police as providers of social services to the poor has been considered. Percent Hispanic does not, however, have a significant impact on policing expenditures in Northeastern and North Central cities. The findings suggest that while a community's fiscal capacity and its need for policing are important determinants of urban financial commitment to policing, the public's willingness to allocate resources for policing also appears to be related to the proportion of the population in Hispanic ethnic groups and to the historical pattern of Hispanic/non-Hispanic group relations characteristic of the region. While the elements of stratification and power that are part of the political process may influence the overall budget level, the way in which they impact on the nature and quality of policing activity is as yet unclear. Rhode Island College research funds facilitated the pursuit of this project. Rhode Island College research funds facilitated the pursuit of this project. Notes Rhode Island College research funds facilitated the pursuit of this project.