NCJ Number
10579
Date Published
1973
Length
296 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS OF THE COMMISSION APPOINTED TO DETERMINE THE INCIDENCE, PREVALENCE, AND CAUSES OF POLICE CORRUPTION IN NEW YORK CITY.
Abstract
THE COMMISSION FOUND CORRUPTION TO BE WIDESPREAD, ALTHOUGH BY NO MEANS UNIFORM IN DEGREE. CORRUPT POLICEMEN ARE DESCRIBED AS EITHER, 'GRASS-EATERS' WHO ACCEPT THE PAY-OFFS AND GRATUITIES THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF POLICE WORK MAY DEVELOP, AND 'MEAT-EATERS', A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE FORCE, WHO AGGRESSIVELY EXPLOIT SITUATIONS FOR LARGE PAYOFFS. CHAPTERS COVER THE DISTINCTIVE PATTERNS OF GAMBLING, NARCOTICS, PROSTITUTION, THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, AND OTHER ELEMENTS INVOLVING GRAFT AND CORRUPTION. THE REASON FOR PAYOFFS, METHODS USED, AND INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF CORRUPTION FACTORS ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. THE TYPE OF GRAFT WHICH A CORRUPT POLICEMEN ACCEPTS IS DETERMINED BY HIS CHARACTER, THE DEPARTMENT TO WHICH HE IS ASSIGNED, THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA IN WHICH HE WORKS, AND HIS RANK AND SPECIFIC DUTIES. THE LARGEST SOURCES OF POLICE PAYOFFS ARE ORGANIZED CRIME AND LEGITIMATE BUSINESS. THE GREATEST OBSTACLE TO ANTICORRUPTION EFFORTS IS A FEELING OF GROUP LOYALTY IN THE POLICE FORCE WHICH GENERATES HOSTILITY TO ATTEMPTS TO EXPOSE CORRUPTION AND A CONCOMITANT CODE OF SILENCE. THE COMMISSION SUGGESTS AN INSPECTIONAL SERVICES BUREAU TO SPEARHEAD AN ALL-OUT ATTACK WHICH INCLUDE REDUCING THE OPPORTUNITIES AND TEMPTATIONS FOR CORRUPT ACTIVITY, INCREASING THE RISKS FOR GIVERS AND TAKERS OF BRIBES, AND CHANGING CERTAIN POLICE PROCEDURES TO REDUCE DEPARTMENT LIABILITY TO CORRUPTION. (SNI ABSTRACT)