NCJ Number
128060
Date Published
1991
Length
32 pages
Annotation
Efforts to improve the control of police conduct should recognize that control mechanisms alone cannot address police misconduct and that viewing control almost exclusively in terms of identifying and taking action against misconduct represents a negative approach.
Abstract
Many factors inherent in the police function make the task of identifying improper conduct, reviewing police actions, and imposing sanctions a complex and sometimes almost impossible task. These factors include the adversary nature of the police function, the insensitivity that results from dealing routinely with crises, the absence of adequate guidelines, an atmosphere of duplicity and hypocrisy in police organizations, fear of incurring tort liability, and police officer's unwillingness to testify against other officers. To reduce and control misconduct, police administrators should use positive approaches to the extent possible, view individual wrongdoing as an agency problem, improve the measurement of police performance, identify officers with a propensity for wrongdoing, improve training, and adequately investigate complaints. Methods for providing citizen redress are also essential. References notes and 5 study questions