Frequency of Contact and Relationship Quality between Places of Worship and the Police

Abstract

Places of worship can serve as an important contact for the police and the police can serve as a vital source of support for congregations. Recent hate crimes and threats against congregations have highlighted the salience of these ties. Little is known, though, about patterns of contact and relationships between places of worship and police. This article presents results from a survey of over 1,300 religious congregations in USA. The analysis shows that two-thirds of congregations report having little or no contact with police, while one-third report having some or a great deal of contact. Over 70% of congregations report having a very friendly relationship with the police. Frequency of contact is positively associated with a congregation being Jewish, being larger, having experienced property crimes, and hosting a shelter or community festivals. Relationship quality is positively associated with contact, but negatively associated with having experienced crime and with a congregation belonging to a liberal–moderate Protestant, black Protestant, or liberal nontraditional denomination.