Racial Perceptions & Police Misconduct

Myra Grant

Race and police misconduct have been an overlooked issue for many years. Exploring race as a contributing factor when it comes to police misconduct, this research project examines how perceptions of race may impact police behavior. More broadly, it considers how race, gender, age and location of the police encounter all affect how individuals are treated by police. This project envisions a survey of Lander University students and their perceptions of past interactions with police. These results could be used to help bring awareness to racial factors which could lead to police misconduct.

• Myra Grant is a senior criminology major with a minor in sociology. She is a member of Residence Hall Council, Student Alumni Association, and Black Student Union.