NCJ Number
212384
Journal
European Journal of Criminology Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2005 Pages: 428-464
Date Published
October 2005
Length
37 pages
Annotation
This paper develops a typology of the nature of integrity problems among police in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and then reports on an empirical measurement of the level of integrity among the police in the Sarajevo canton.
Abstract
The typology of the nature of integrity problems among BiH police focuses on administrative and procedural resistance to the International Police Task Force and the Dayton Peace Agreement; inaction and/or neglect of duty; harassment and/or threats of violence; manipulation of the justice system; violence and/or use of excessive force; and corruption and/or criminal activity. This typology suggests that integrity problems among police are broad and heterogeneous, apparently numerous, and often severe. An empirical study was conducted to determine whether this typology of integrity problems was valid for police in the BiH canton of Sarajevo. In the fall of 2003, questionnaires were distributed by police supervisors to 500 sworn officers in 4 police stations in the Sarajevo canton. The questionnaire contained 10 hypothetical cases of police behavior followed by 7 questions for each case. Respondents were asked to comment on the seriousness of the incident, whether the police behavior was a violation of official rules, the discipline that should be given for any misconduct, and their willingness to report the misconduct. Respondents clearly differentiated among various examples of police corruption and believed that some behaviors should be tolerated. Other behaviors were condemned as warranting punishment. For the three most serious scenarios that described violations of criminal laws, most of the respondents expected either suspension or dismissal from the force. In emerging from war and the disintegration of many values regarding violence and human rights, BiH will continue to struggle in forging new behaviors based in democratic values. This will inevitably be reflected in police behaviors. 4 tables, appended questionnaire and 44 references