ABSTRACT

In the modern era, the police and law enforcement are a controversial presence in the media. Bad impressions linger more than good ones, so perceptions of police brutality in the media can result in a general distrust of the police. Granted, in many of these instances, the police have abused power. However, in other instances, when the actions of police are justified, it is important to maintain a trusting law enforcement-citizen relationship for a functioning society.

The intended purpose of this study was to determine different factors that may influence societal perceptions of law enforcement. This is to be executed through an informational video that demonstrates a neutral and positive view of law enforcement. The apparent wealth of the suspect in the video will also be manipulated to be a further independent variable. The results of this study, while simulated, are predicted to have significant results in favor of societal perceptions being more positive when presented with a positive informational video.