Abstract:
Much has been dedicated to Elijah Anderson’s (1999) Code of the Street Theory, but little
research has investigated how attitudes toward police legitimacy influence the adoption of the
street code value system. This study utilizes secondary data from a sample of young adults to
examine (1) whether one’s race influences the adoption of the street code, and (2) whether those
with more negative attitudes toward the police will be more likely to develop violent street code
mentalities. Results illustrate that race (Black) plays a significant role in the likelihood of
adopting street code belief systems compared to other race demographics measured.
Additionally, those who perceive the police to be less legitimate are more likely to develop
violent mentalities conducive to the street code. These and other findings, limitations, and
implications are discussed.
