NCJ Number
185740
Journal
Policing Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: 2000 Pages: 381-389
Editor(s)
Lawrence F. Travis III
Date Published
2000
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Although policing in a democratic society is one of the essential arguments in the literature, data collected from this study of 306 police chiefs in Turkey showed nepotism and favoritism, enforced mainly by politicians, were the main problems in police organizations.
Abstract
Data were collected from police chiefs to specify and clarify police problems. Questionnaires contained 47 items about policing problems, including demographic items. Of the 306 police chiefs, 22.5 percent, 14.8 percent, and 62.7 percent were chief inspectors, superintendents, and directors, respectively. Findings indicated nepotism and favoritism were problems in Turkish police organizations. Appointments, promotions, and the honor system were mostly regulated by personal networks rather than by legal rules, and these networks were often based on political affiliation. Legality was ignored by governing political parties at the expense of the democratization of policing. Consequently, law enforcement and maintaining social order within the principles of democracy were found to be problematic in Turkey. It was determined such a climate may encourage organized criminal groups that are against the democratization of the country. 11 references