ABSTRACT
Quality perceptions are not uncommon regarding the criminal justice system and law enforcement entities. Constantly, opinions are formed regarding the quality of these institutions and their rendered service. Both individuals and groups of people form perceptions and opinions of the criminal justice system and law enforcement entities through directly or indirectly
interacting with these entities, or through some form of observation regarding these entities. A direct experience may include someone personally experiencing the receipt of a tra¤c ticket, asking an o¤cer for directions, or standing before a judge either to celebrate joyously a returned verdict of “not guilty” or to receive a punitive sentence resulting from a returned verdict of “guilty.” Indirect experiences may involve someone who has a friend or family member who is directly experiencing the justice system or law enforcement situation. Although this person may be indirectly involved, he still forms an opinion of the justice system and the law enforcement entity based on his observations of the experience of his friend or colleague. še third category consists of those who neither experience the justice system nor the law enforcement entity directly or indirectly; instead, they may form an opinion from reading news articles or viewing television news reports.
