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Who teaches youth about police? Examining associations between knowledge sources and police interactions

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  • Fix, Rebecca L.
  • Pan, Annie
  • Hong, Kathy

Abstract

Though the onus of ensuring safe youth-police interactions falls onto police, there is a clear need to inform youth about the law, roles of police officers, and strategies to promote effective and safe officer interactions. Knowledge concerning how youth learn about police requires extension. Our study examined how adolescents learn about police, and whether some of these factors contribute to positively or negatively valanced youth-police encounters. Results from 391 surveys indicated Black youth (40%) were least likely to learn about police from teachers (Latine (56%) and White youth (59%)), and that Latine youth (74%) were significantly less likely than Black (91%) and White (89%) youth to learn about police from caregivers. While the onus of responsibility falls on police during police-youth interactions, it remains important to ensure youth citizens are aware of their rights and have skills and knowledge to promote safe and effective police-youth interactions.

Suggested Citation

  • Fix, Rebecca L. & Pan, Annie & Hong, Kathy, 2025. "Who teaches youth about police? Examining associations between knowledge sources and police interactions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:170:y:2025:i:c:s019074092500026x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108143
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