The police have often been accused of failing to provide equal service to all members of the society due to prejudice and the police are the most visible representatives in the criminal justice system. This visibility makes the police the most outward indicator of prejudice in the criminal justice system. When the actions of the police are viewed as prejudice, a series of negative consequences occurs in the society. Therefore, the police need to tackle this problem effectively. In order to develop a preventive strategy, the police must have a clear understanding of prejudice. However, there has been little research on this topic in Korea. Thus, the current study attempted to fill this gap. The purpose of the present study was to examine the lived experience of police officers to determine if they have prejudice toward the credibility of persons under investigation; which groups of persons they have prejudice toward; how they form prejudicial attitudes; what effects prejudice has on criminal investigation. In order to answer theses research questions, the mindset of the police has to be understood. And the police themselves are the only realistic source of such intimate knowledge of the workings of the police mind. Therefore, this study adopted a qualitative approach and seventeen police officers were interviewed in-depth, using an interview guide. The results of the study revealed that the majority of the study participants had prejudice toward some groups of persons under investigation and they had developed prejudicial attitudes while on the job. In addition, this study also showed that prejudice had negative effects on criminal investigation.

The police have often been accused of failing to provide equal service to all members of the society due to prejudice and the police are the most visible representatives in the criminal justice system. This visibility makes the police the most outward indicator of prejudice in the criminal justice system. When the actions of the police are viewed as prejudice, a series of negative consequences occurs in the society. Therefore, the police need to tackle this problem effectively. In order to develop a preventive strategy, the police must have a clear understanding of prejudice. However, there has been little research on this topic in Korea. Thus, the current study attempted to fill this gap. The purpose of the present study was to examine the lived experience of police officers to determine if they have prejudice toward the credibility of persons under investigation; which groups of persons they have prejudice toward; how they form prejudicial attitudes; what effects prejudice has on criminal investigation. In order to answer theses research questions, the mindset of the police has to be understood. And the police themselves are the only realistic source of such intimate knowledge of the workings of the police mind. Therefore, this study adopted a qualitative approach and seventeen police officers were interviewed in-depth, using an interview guide. The results of the study revealed that the majority of the study participants had prejudice toward some groups of persons under investigation and they had developed prejudicial attitudes while on the job. In addition, this study also showed that prejudice had negative effects on criminal investigation.