Examples Of Police Corruption

473 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Code of ethics and behavior

Police corruption is a type of misconduct in which an officer breaks his ethical code of conduct. Beigel (1974) says that police corruption can be broken down into two categories: external and internal. External corruption involves acts of corruption that affect the public, while internal corruption deals with acts within a police department.
Beigel (1974) goes on to give several examples of external corruption. One is a payoff from people who are generally non-criminals. These are people who may need police protection in high crime areas or who constantly violate traffic laws. The second example is a payoff from criminals. This includes drug dealers, prostitutes, and professional burglars. These individuals bribe police officers so as to avoid police intervention during the commission of their crimes. Low-level criminals may pay individual officers to turn a blind eye to their crimes. High-level organized criminals often make regular payments to police district commanders, who in turn instruct their subordinates avoid arresting certain criminals.
Beigel (1974) also provides examples of internal corruption. One example is the obedience of the blue code of silence. This involves officers not discussing their colleagues’ crimes or misconduct. Other examples include payments to higher-level officials for better assignments …show more content…

Bad apple officers are described as individuals predisposed to bad behavior. The position of power as a police officer nurtures their bad behavior. Melig (2012) goes on to say that the bad apple perspective was born out of the belief that humans are naturally inclined to misbehave. This belief also says the reason that most humans do not misbehave is that certain factors draw them away from bad behavior. Law enforcement agencies use different techniques in order to weed out any potential bad apples such as background checks, interviews, and polygraph

Show More
Related

  • Corruption In The New Orleans Police Department Case Study

    1171 Words  | 3 Pages

    In a recorded conversation, Williams told Adams he could protect his drug operation, but he needed to bring his partner in on it. In 1994, Davis and Williams provide Adams police protection. The informant Terry Adams delivered about 7.5 kilograms of cocaine to a FBI undercover agent, each officer was paid $500 per kilo. May 4, 1994 two cops, Adams and undercover FBI agent Juan Jackson posed as a New York drug dealer named ‘JJ” he made everyone strip to show that they were not wired.” The cops agreed to hire a uniformed New Orleans police officer to protect the large quantities of cocaine for three days. Davis recommended

    Read More

  • The Baltimore Police State: Police Corruption In Baltimore, Baltimore

    817 Words  | 2 Pages

    The activity caused by police corruption is the reason police brutality takes place. If a person does not do what the police officer at the time wants them to do, the officer may take it to heart and use violent force, which we know as police brutality. At times I do believe that race places a big role when it comes now to police corruption, because racism in police treatment of minorities has created great disparities in incarceration amongst the

    Read More

  • Elimination of Corruption in the WA (Western Australia) Police Force

    2255 Words  | 5 Pages

    Different researches and enquiry commissions have come up with different reasons as to why corruption prevails in the police force. We will look at some of the most probable causes which apply to WA Police.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Corruption In The Houston Police Department

    1587 Words  | 4 Pages

    As a newly promoted Lieutenant in charge of jail operations in the Houston Police Department (HPD), there are several critical issues regarding the jail environment that require immediate attention such as, inadequate conditions of confinement, health care, security measures, and sexual misconduct between correctional officers and inmates. The aforementioned issues are a controversial topic all across the U.S. and it usually attracts media attention and creates negative publicity towards the Department of Corrections. A lieutenant of jail operations is responsible for his or he shift and oversees multiple areas of the jail facility. Responsibilities of a jail lieutenant includes but is not limited to the following: (1) coordinate shift activities;

    Read More

  • Police Corruption: Time to Get Rid of Crooked Cops

    1650 Words  | 4 Pages

    Serve and Protect are common words associated with police officers, however some law enforcement officers taint the honor and integrity of the job. Police Corruption is a serious problem affecting nearly every city across the country and world. Curbing police corruption is a tall order; however, improving the recruitment and training process and internal controls can bring this issue to an abrupt stop.

    Read More

  • Pros And Consequences Of The Criminal Justice System

    1008 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Police Officers participate in stereotypical behavior a false since of being is then created (Kirby, 2016). Corrupt Police Officers coin a theory to search out suspects then evidence (Kirby, 2016). In America everyone is supposed to be presumed innocent until proven guilty (Thomson, 2016). The Criminal Justice Administration has already claimed the lives of many due to the lack of evidence and probable cause (Goldstein, 1994). Police Officers who are racially motivated also create a conflict in the reward system because they act quickly especially when a victim is Caucasian, distinguished, a child or a member of Law Enforcement (Kirby, 2016). Racism is often the motive of corruption within the Criminal Justice Administration (Kirby,

    Read More

  • Examples Of Violation In Law Enforcement

    567 Words  | 2 Pages

    While reviewing the various instances of corruption by Law enforcement officers, it was shocking to see the increasing instances of repetitive and flagrant violations of abuse and corruption by law enforcement. Although it is conceivable that in some instances, such as the excessive use of force, the officer's perception of events at that instance could be skewed and could, therefore, result in an outcome less favorable than intended, however, there are some instances in which the actions of the officer(s) are intentional.

    Read More

  • Essay On Police Corruption

    1320 Words  | 3 Pages

    Police corruption is a difficult issue cities have to deal with and one of the oldest problems in the police force. Corruption can be defined as the mistreatment of public power for personal benefit or private and the use of excessive force either emotional or physical. In this essay I will explain in detail federal indictments of Los Angeles Country Sheriff officers use of mistreatment of jail inmates and visitors. Another topic I will explain is the transfer of Los Angeles Country Sheriff hired officers with questionable background. Finally I will end by analyzing the hiring of new Sheriff deputies under the “Friends of the Sheriff” program. There are several ways police departments could take to reduce police corruption. The three areas I think should change are the training officers further in how to diminish abuse, improving personal character of officers, and incentives program.

    Read More

  • The Legacy Of The Police Code Of Ethicality

    1124 Words  | 3 Pages

    Several effective strategies exist to minimize or end ethical violations within law enforcement or correctional organizations. In many agencies an internal affairs division established, to monitor unethical acts conducted by an officer. A strong internal affairs division and other watchdog groups help officer’s stay free of dishonesty and wrongdoing. Many agencies have also started to conduct intensive background checks and psychological screenings to weed out individuals with anti-social personalities (Lawrence, 2015).

    Read More

  • Police Corruption in Arizona

    621 Words  | 2 Pages

    Police Corruption is something that has been and still is infecting our nation’s police departments since the founding of law enforcement over 300 years ago. The very people that you are supposed to trust to stop criminals are becoming criminals themselves. Arizona is no exception to the point that there is story after story of officers using their “discretion” and abusing their power.

    Read More

  • Police Corruption in LA Confidential and Training Day

    1403 Words  | 3 Pages

    So can there be such a thing as ethical police corruption? It seems so in these two examples, in the end the obviously guilty party paid a punishment somehow. I think Lieutenant Ed Exley and Officer Jack Hoyt have defined the line between moral and immoral police corruption. If the corruption adds to the problems in society, the corrupt individual needs to have proper punishment imposed. If this punishment can only be given by an underling officer who knows the truth then let what needs to be done be done. The end justifies the means.

    Read More

  • Police Misconduct and Corruption

    2505 Words  | 6 Pages

    Martin, Rich. "Police Corruption: An Analytical Look into Police Ethics." The FBI Enforcement Bulletin May 2011: 11+. Academic OneFile. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.

    Read More

  • Law Enforcement and Ethics

    2227 Words  | 5 Pages

    It is often said that power brings corruption, but in reality it is an individual’s lack of character, self-discipline, and integrity that leads to corruption. Law enforcement can bring many temptations on the job, and maintaining an up most level of personal integrity can often times be very difficult. The very nature of the job surrounds officers with all of the bad things that society, produces. There can be an endless amount of training and rules put into place to try and deter officers from committing unethical acts, but in the end it really just comes down to the specific individual and their willingness to do the right thing.

    Read More

  • Police Corruption

    675 Words  | 2 Pages

    Police corruption is a nationwide problem that has been going on for many years. Not only is corruption a problem on our own U.S. soil, but police practices of corruption go as far east as Europe and Asia. Many studies, polls and examinations were taken to find out how exactly what the general publics’ opinions of the police are. Officers receive a lot of scrutiny over this issue, but for good reason.

    Read More

  • How To Reduce Police Corruption

    1275 Words  | 3 Pages

    The majority of peace officers are committed to the profession they chose. They view the career as a calling, a dedication to perform a public service to their community. Being a police officer requires one to continually strive for perfection, but there is no such thing as a perfect cop. What makes a good cop turn bad? Many factors can attribute to police corruption, but the question that should be asked is if it can be stopped. Although police agencies have progressed greatly from its beginning, police corruption is the black mark that will forever leave a stain of embarrassment within an organization.

    Read More

More about Examples Of Police Corruption

Open Document