NCJ Number
50967
Journal
Criminal Justice Review Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (FALL 1977) Pages: 101-110
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINED THE EXISTENCE OF SOCIAL DEFINITIONS OF POLICE CORRUPTION IN A SOUTHERN CITY AND FOUND THAT POLICE MAKE DISTINCTIONS AMONG VARIOUS PATTERNS OF POLICE CORRUPTION AND USE THEM TO DEFINE ACCEPTED ACTS.
Abstract
QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO ALL 45 ACTIVE PATROL OFFICERS IN A POLICE DEPARTMENT SERVING A SOUTHEASTERN CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ABOUT 25,000. THE QUESTIONNAIRE ASKED EACH OFFICER TO RANK FIRST THE WRONGNESS OF TEN PATTERNS OF POLICE CORRUPTION, THEN THE PREVALENCE OF THESE PATTERNS IN THE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS FOUND THAT ACTS TERMED 'CORRUPTION OF AUTHORITY' -- RECEIVING FREE MEALS, FREE CUPS OF COFFEE, FREE ADMISSION TO ATHLETIC EVENTS, ETC. -- HAD LOW PERCEIVED DEVIANCE SCORES. THE OFFICERS ALSO RESPONDED THAT THEY FELT 61.42 PERCENT OF THE DEPARTMENT HAD PARTICIPATED IN SUCH ACTIVITIES. THE NEXT MOST DEVIANT ACT WAS SEEN AS THE RECEIVING OF KICKBACKS. IT WAS FELT THAT 22.40 PERCENT OF THE DEPARTMENT HAD ENGAGED IN THIS BEHAVIOR. OPPORTUNISTIC THEFTS FROM CONSTRUCTION SITES, CRIME SCENES, OR UNLOCKED PROPERTIES WERE SEEN AS QUITE SERIOUS. IT WAS FELT 12.93 PERCENT OF THE DEPARTMENT HAD ENGAGED IN SUCH BEHAVIORS. THE OTHER BEHAVIORS AND THEIR PERCEIVED EXTENT WERE: TICKET FIXING, 4.49 PERCENT; INTERNAL PAYOFFS, 4.33 PERCENT; FIXING MISDEMEANOR CHARGES, 3.63 PERCENT; PROTECTION OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES, 2.74 PERCENT; SHAKEDOWNS, 2.63 PERCENT; FIXING FELONY CHARGES, 1.54 PERCENT; AND DIRECT CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, 0.54 PERCENT. THESE FINDINGS INDICATE THAT THE PERCEIVED EXTENT OF THE TEN PATTERNS OF CORRUPTION VARIES INVERSELY WITH THE PERCEIVED DEVIANCE OR WRONGNESS OF THE CORRUPT BEHAVIOR IN QUESTION. TABLES PRESENT FULL SURVEY DATA. (GLR)