지역경찰관의 회복적 경찰활동 태도 형성 요인과 실천 의향의 관계

초록

Restorative policing has received increasing attention as a complementary approach to the limitations of retributive criminal justice, particularly in relation to early intervention in community conflicts. This study examined factors associated with local police officers’ attitudes toward restorative policing and analyzed the relationship between these attitudes and their intention to practice restorative policing. The study focused on the possibility of restorative intervention by local police officers in field settings, such as 112 emergency call responses, before conflicts unnecessarily escalate into formal criminal procedures. Data were collected from 125 local police officers in Seoul and Incheon. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted. The results showed that stronger endorsement of traditional police roles was associated with less positive attitudes toward restorative policing, whereas higher perceived necessity and effectiveness of restorative policing were associated with more positive attitudes. In addition, attitudes toward restorative policing were significantly associated with officers’ intention to practice restorative policing, even after controlling for gender and total police career. These findings suggest that local police officers’ acceptance of restorative policing is closely related to how they understand the role of the police and how they perceive the necessity and effectiveness of restorative approaches. The results also indicate that restorative policing should be understood not as a replacement for law enforcement, but as a complementary approach that may help local police officers respond to certain community conflicts through voluntary, non-coercive, and procedurally safe interventions. This study provides exploratory empirical evidence for discussing the conditions under which restorative policing may be introduced and supported at the local police level.

키워드