NCJ Number
50834
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 264-272
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY IDENTIFIES PATTERNS OF POLICE OCCUPATIONAL DEVIANCE OTHER THAN CORRUPTION, THEN TESTS FOR THEIR EXISTENCE IN AN UNNAMED CITY. SUCH VIOLATIONS ARE CALLED FUNCTIONS OF OPPORTUNITY AND PERCEIVED GROUP SUPPORT.
Abstract
RULE OR NORM VIOLATIONS AMONG POLICE OFFICERS ARE RELATED TO MORE GENERAL FORMS OF OCCUPATIONAL DEVIANCE AND ARE CALLED A FUNCTION OF OPPORTUNITY STRUCTURE, SOCIALIZATION THROUGH OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCES, AND REINFORCEMENT AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE OCCUPATIONAL PEER GROUP. POLICE PERJURY, BRUTALITY, SEX ON DUTY, SLEEPING ON DUTY, AND DRINKING ON DUTY ARE EXAMINED IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITY, POSSIBLE CAUSES, AND PEER SUPPORT. INDIRECT MEANS ARE USED TO TEST FOR THE EXISTENCE OF THESE BEHAVIORS IN A SOUTHERN CITY. EACH MEMBER OF THE FORCE WAS ASKED ABOUT THE 'WRONGNESS' OF THE BEHAVIOR, THE LIKELIHOOD THAT A FELLOW OFFICER WOULD REPORT SUCH BEHAVIOR, AND ABOUT THE ESTIMATED INCIDENCE OF SUCH BEHAVIOR IN THE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS FOUND THAT PERCEIVED EXTENT OF EACH DEVIANCE VARIED INVERSELY WITH THE PERCEIVED 'WRONGNESS' AND RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THAT BEHAVIOR. SLEEPING ON DUTY AND POLICE BRUTALITY WERE REPORTED AS MOST COMMON AND LEAST LIKELY TO BE REPORTED. SEX ON DUTY AND PERJURY IN COURT HAD MODERATE RANKINGS. DRINKING ON DUTY WAS SEEN AS MOST SERIOUS AND MOST LIKELY TO BE REPORTED, THOUGH 11 PERCENT REPORTED THAT AN OFFICER COULD DRINK ON DUTY AND RARELY OR NEVER BE REPORTED. POLICE SUPERVISORS CAN EXERT SOME CONTROL OVER THESE ON DUTY OFFENSES BY TIGHTER SUPERVISION AND CHANNELING PEER GROUP PRESSURE TO DISCOURAGE THESE ACTS. SUPPORTING DATA ARE TABULATED. (GLR)