Definition of Police Corruption

Acts involving the
misuse of authority
by a police officer in
a manner designed
to produce personal
gain for himself or
for others.
Herman Goldstein
Types of Corruption


Gratuities
• Free meals, dry
cleaning,or discounts
• Receive or not receive?
• Why would business
persons give gratuities?
Bribes
• For not enforcing the law
• Selling information
• Protecting illegal
activities

Theft and burglary
• Taking money from
people arrested for
drunkenness
• Stealing property,
money, or drugs

Internal Corruption
• Buying promotions or
transfers
Levels of corruption

Rotten apples
and rotten
pockets
• Only a few
officers
• Rotten pocket-a
few officers
cooperate with
one another

Pervasive
unorganized
corruption
• Majority of personnel
who are corrupt, but
who have little
relationship to each
other.

Pervasive organized
corruption
• Penetrates higher
levels
Theories of police corruption

Individual officer
explanations

• Conflict over the goals of
the system
• Rotten apples

The criminal law
• Regulation of
activities that people
regard as legitimate
or matters of private
choice
• Regulatory
ordinances
Culture conflict

Local Political Culture
• Corruption pervades
other parts of
government

Nature of police work
• Opportunity
• Low visibility
• Officer attitude
Theories of police corruption
 Police
organization
• Quality of management and
supervision
• Exists because the department
tolerates it
 Police
subculture
• Initiates officers into corrupt activities
• Covers up corrupt activities
Controlling corruption

Internal
• Attitude of Chief of Police
• Rules and Regulations
• Internal Affairs investigations
– Cracking the blue curtain
– Integrity tests
• Supervision
• Rewarding good officers
• Recruitment
Controlling corruption
 External
• Special investigations
• Criminal prosecution
• Mobilizing public opinion
–Media