Wilson's theory of police behavior: A replication of the constraint theory

This paper re-examines James Q. Wilson's theory that police behavior is constrained by political culture. Using 1975 FBI arrest data and data published in the International City Management Association's Municipal Yearbook, Wilson's test of his theory is replicated. In addition to comparing mean arrest rates, some considerable attention is paid to intercity arrest rate variability. While the comparison of mean arrest rates confirms Wilson's empirical findings, examination of variability leads to the conclusion that Wilson's theory is a theory of central tendency, not a theory of constraints.