NCJ Number
144543
Date Published
1994
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This paper profiles the changing patterns of vice in five large U.S. cities, police corruption patterns associated with vice in those cities, and the dilemmas posed for police departments in attempting to counter vice-related police corruption.
Abstract
Vice activities typically do not involve complaining victims (prostitution, pornography, illegal gambling, and illicit drug trafficking and use) and involve relatively frequent interaction between police and suspects without direct supervision of officers or observation by innocent victims and witnesses. This paper profiles police vice- related corruption in the cities of Miami, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, and San Francisco. The author identifies several dilemmas that confront police organizations that attempt to reduce incidents of corruption in the face of a constant level of vice. First, there is a long-standing debate between advocates of further decriminalization of vice and those who believe that the disorder caused by tolerance of vice can lead to more serious crime. Second, debate continues between those who favor the centralization of vice patrol responsibility and those who want to decentralize it. Third, there is disagreement over whether vice can be countered more effectively by specialized units or by generalist line officers with a range of responsibilities. The fourth issue is the conflict between autonomy and supervision. This is particularly significant in the current emphasis on community policing, which features beat policing and continuity of beat personnel; this conflicts with the rotation of police personnel to prevent the entrenchment of corruption. 302 notes and 5 study questions