SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY POLICE OFFICERS (FROM POLICE DEVIANCE, THIRD EDITION, P 187-200, 1994, THOMAS BARKER AND DAVID L CARTER, EDS. -- SEE NCJ-144538)

• NCJ Number: 144549
• Author(s): A D Sapp
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Anderson Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

This paper discusses sexually motivated actions and behavior by police officers as a form of police misconduct.

Abstract

This report is part of a study that began in 1981 and has continued since then. Data for the study were obtained from interviews with police officers and police supervisors in several large, metropolitan municipal police departments in seven States. Additional input was obtained from conversations with hundreds of municipal and State police officers and former police officers. A number of deputy sheriffs were also interviewed. The research followed basic research methods for participant-observer research as suggested by Polsky (1967). Generalization from the findings is limited. The discussion is limited to male police officer and female citizen forms of sexual harassment. The behaviors identified in this paper can be generally classified as sexually motivated, since many of the behaviors are not overtly sexual. Seven categories of police sexually motivated or sexual harassment behavior are nonsexual contacts that are sexually motivated, voyeuristic contacts, contacts with crime victims, contacts with offenders, contacts with juvenile females, sexual shakedowns, and citizen-initiated sexual contacts. Although most police officers do not misuse their authority or take advantage of the numerous opportunities for sexual harassment of female citizens, some do, and the result is that exploitation of citizens by law enforcement officers lessens the respect for the department involved and all other police agencies and officers. Control of officers who sexually harass citizens is difficult to achieve, but it should receive attention from police administrators. Only when administrators and supervisors make it clear to every officer that sexual misconduct and sexual harassment will not be tolerated in any form or degree is the behavior likely to decrease. Police officers must be educated about sexual misconduct and its effect upon the department and the public. 11 references and 7 study questions