ORIGINS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT (FROM CRITICAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 1979, BY R G IACOVETTA AND DAE H CHANG - SEE NCJ-63717)

• NCJ Number: 63732
• Author(s): R J LUNDMAN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Carolina Academic Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THIS ESSAY EXAMINES POLICE MISCONDUCT AS AN ORGANIZATIONAL PHENOMENON, USING AS AN EXAMPLE POLICE ABUSE OF ARREST DISCRETION, AND OFFERS WAYS TO PREVENT SUCH MISCONDUCT.

Abstract

FOR POLICE MISCONDUCT TO BE ORGANIZATIONAL RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL, IT MUST BE SUPPORTED BY PEER NORMS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, THERE MUST BE MECHANISMS WHEREBY NEW OFFICERS ARE TAUGHT NORMS SUPPORTIVE OF THE MISCONDUCT, AND IT MUST BE SUPPORTED BY POLICE ADMINISTRATORS. POLICE ABUSE-OF-ARREST DISCRETION WAS STUDIED AS AN EXAMPLE, TESTED AGAINST THE THREE NORMS. THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT ABUSE-OF-ARREST DISCRETION IS AN ORGANIZATIONAL RATHER THAN AN INDIVIDUAL PHENOMENON: SOCIALIZATION, PATROL NORMS, ADMINISTRATIVE PROMOTION POLICY, AND DEPARTMENTAL LOYALTY SUPPORT THE PHENOMENON. THE ESSAY ALSO EXAMINES METHODS OF PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING POLICE MISCONDUCT AND POINTS OUT THE GENERAL INEFFECTIVENESS OF INDIVIDUALISTIC PREVENTION AND CONTROL STRATEGIES. AN ORGANIZATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE ORIGINS OF MISCONDUCT DOES NOT MEAN THAT INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS PERSONALLY ENDORES THE ORGANIZATIONAL NORMS. EFFECTIVE PREVENTION AND CONTROL REQUIRES CHANGE OF COMMON DEPARTMENTAL PRACTICES. ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT PREVENT MISCONDUCT INCLUDE A LOCAL, PERMANENT, PAID PROFESSIONAL STAFF WITH AUTHORITY OVER BUDGET, TENURE AND PROMOTION. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND EXTENSIVE NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)