NCJ Number
43162
Date Published
1975
Length
71 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEM OF POLICE CORRUPTION, WHICH UNDERMINES PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND INTERFERES WITH EFFECTIVE POLICE SERVICE, IS EXAMINED, AND SOME COMMON SOLUTIONS ARE EVALUATED.
Abstract
POLICE CORRUPTION, WHICH IS DEFINED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS INQUIRY AS ACTS INVOLVING THE MISUSE OF AUTHORITY BY A POLICE OFFICER FOR PERSONAL GAIN FOR HIMSELF OR OTHERS, AND EXCLUDING POLICE MISCONDUCT MOTIVATED BY FACTORS OTHER THAN PERSONAL GAIN, IS A VERY SENSITIVE SUBJECT AMONG POLICE PERSONNEL. A LACK OF CANDOR HINDERS THE EFFORT TO DEAL WITH CORRUPTION AND TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR CONFRONTING IT. THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES SUCH CONSIDERATIONS AS THE COMPLEXITIES OF DEFINING CORRUPTION, ITS IMPACT ON TYPICAL POLICE ORGANIZATION AND THE QUALITY OF POLICE SERVICE, ITS COSTS, MAGNITUDE, PATTERNS, AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. TYPES OF CORRUPTION, BOTH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL, AND ORGANIZED CORRUPTION ARE PRESENTED. THE PROBLEMS OF ADMINISTRATORS TAKING A STRONG STANCE AGAINST CORRUPTION INCLUDE ACQUIRING EVIDENCE, MAINTAINING MORALE, AND ASSESSING THE INTEGRITY OF SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL. LEGITIMIZING POLICE DISCRETION IN REGARD TO UNENFORCEABLE LAWS, PUBLIC EDUCATION, TENURE FOR ADMINISTRATORS, RECRUIT TRAINING, INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL INVESTIGATION UNITS, PROSECUTION OF CORRUPT OFFICERS, AND REWARDS FOR HONEST OFFICERS ARE LISTED AS REMEDIAL MEASURES; THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF EACH METHOD ARE STUDIED. OPEN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND THOROUGH EXPLORATION OF POLICE CORRUPTION ARE ESSENTIAL TO DEVELOPING TECHNIQUES FOR COPING WITH THE PROBLEM. A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SUGGESTED READINGS IS INCLUDED.