Perceptions of police interactions with African American male

Victims of police misconduct encounter stress and anxiety that can have an immense effect on their well-being. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the relationship between African American males and law enforcement. This study utilized face-to-face interviews with 15 African American males who had a recent interaction with law enforcement and who were between the ages of 18 and 45. Questions from a researcher-developed interview guide elicited responses about experiences with and opinions of law enforcement.;Findings suggest that respondents have a negative perception of law enforcement and police misconduct continues to increase paranoia amongst African American males. Respondents indicated feeling threatened by the police, and that the media does not give adequate coverage to the topic of police misconduct. Recommendations for social work included community involvement, diversity training, and improving communication.