...Policing and Police Issues CJA 303 Police misconduct of the past was centered on the police turning a blind eye toward other officers who committed crimes. When police officers join a police department, they become members of a “brotherhood.” This “brotherhood” plays an important role in the way officers see themselves and the world around them. Officers learn early in their career of the importance of loyalty to fellow officers. This misplaced loyalty is a major factor in police misconduct. Police culture allows misplaced loyalty to flourish, rationalizing it as part of the “brotherhood” (Barry, 1999). The majority of law enforcement holds the public trust as sacred. These men and women are honest, hardworking police officers who have a commitment to serving the public with integrity and have the highest standards of ethical behavior. There will always be a small number of officers who misuse or abuse the public’s trust (Beech, 1996). One of the most difficult ethical dilemmas that an officer can face is informing on another officer. Informing or testifying against one’s peers has always been perceived as a career killer for the officer testifying. There are problems however, when police officers protect each other. One of the greatest harms of cover-ups is the harm that is inflicted upon a police officer’s creditability (Pollock, 2004). Who would believe this officer in court testifying at a trial? The defense will go after the officer’s creditability and if there is any...
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...Corruption, Misconduct, and Brutality by Police Officers Stephen D. Windish June 9, 2014 CJA / 214 Instructor: Mr. Martinez University of Phoenix Abstract Since the beginning of the structured police forces across the United States corruption, misconduct, and claims of brutality by police officers has been a problem. Police officers who were sworn to protect and serve the people of their communities have been instilled with authority over people. Throughout history anyone having some type of power or absolute authority over another has created controversy. This paper will look into the statements and details of concerns dealing with police corruption, misconduct, and brutality of police officers in the United States. Corruption, Misconduct, and Brutality by Police Officers Corruption by uniformed police officers is a form of misconduct. This is done by an officer who is attempting to obtain something for his personal gain like money or a possible advancement in career. Misconduct of this type is done with the officer using his authority or power abusively. The term police corruption is typically stated when speaking or referring to the department administration doing something to gain a political edge or possibly a kind of gain financially. The everyday uniformed officer could be listed as corrupt by accepting money to not perform his duties properly. All officers who are stated to be corrupt have committed an action that is considered to be illegal. In...
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...punching tourists in areas usually considered relatively safe and a police officer narrowly escaping after several people attacked him in front of his home. Gov. Luiz Fernando Pezão of the state of Rio acknowledged there were not enough police officers on hand during the first couple days of Carnival, though more than 17,000 officers worked in Rio State each day during the festivities. “We were not prepared,” Mr. Pezão said. “There was a failure on the first two days, and then we brought backup for police. I think there has been a mistake in our part.” Statistics from the Friday to Tuesday festivities have not yet been released. Mr. Pezão...
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...Michael Dowd and his colleague’s behavior are despicable, they are what we would consider as rotten pocket; a term used in chapter 9 of burns describing “a group of officers engaging in corruption collectively” (Burns, 2013, p.392). However, before we start judging his colleague, we must take into consideration what may have prompted them to commit these crimes. Be mindful that they were surrounded by an inhuman individual; Michael Dowd, the perfect example of corruption, even his own partners called him a “crook in a cop uniform.” Dowd had allowed greed to get the best of him, resulting in him engaging in extortion and shakedown. Even though his partners were at fault too; their behavior is explanatory. Why they chose to get involved is something we can understand once we put sociology into context. Informal socialization a theory...
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...customer service representative and had to sign up for online classes because of my schedule times. Looking forward to online classes and hope for an enjoyable experience. My general appreciation of law enforcement officers after reviewing the book is that this is a very sensitive and often misunderstood by the general public, because of how people perceive them in the media as a us vs them attitude. And the reason for community policing began not as an obligation but primarily to serve and cooperatively engage with the community and citizens they swore to protect. Police departments have come under heavy fire and criticism on recent decades for the so called “Police brutality”: taking for...
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...Police brutality 2011 Intro to Policing 6/11/2011 “Police in Miami Beach, Florida attempted to cover-up evidence of a brutal police shooting of an apparently unarmed man on May 30. An eyewitness captured the killing on video (see link), then had his cell phone seized and smashed. The victim of the shooting was 22-year old Raymond Herisse. At least nine officers opened fire on Herisse in a hail of bullets, injuring four bystanders in the process. Eyewitnesses say that Herisse never fired back.”( wsws.org) This is an all too sad common headline in our country. The police force has had many accusations and cases of excessive force, brutality and corruption. Often when corruption and police are said one thinks of LAPD as it had the longest run of corruption in US history. Now, however it seems Miami has caught up. The video shows the police unloading several rounds into a vehicle where no shots are returned and then it shows the police harassing the public. The obvious threat was the perpetrator in the vehicle as they were not concerned with the public until they murdered him. Once the police realized they had been video tapped by the public they all acting in hysteria trying to control the situation. I understand the fear they felt of losing their badges and possibly their freedom. However, placing a loaded pistol in innocent people’s faces is the worst thing a “protector of peace” should ever do. They were only trying to protect their image and their jobs. This video and...
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...criminal justice include the police, courts, and corrections. As an administrator overseeing the police department would be indeed the hardest of the three. Within a police department the chief of police would be the top administrator and in command of administrating the departments policies to officers, detectives, and supporting staff. This paper will discuss the roles of a chief of police and the negative and positive aspects he or she may endure. As an administrator of a police department, the requirements are more than just ensuring the officers follow the policies of that department. It requires the individual to be knowledgeable of federal and state laws, budgets, and public relations and must be able to communicate in a competent fashion in a written and oral manner and be a critical thinker. Other challenges a chief of police can face are ensuring the officers are well trained and have the proper equipment to do his or her job while out on patrol. A chief of police must be an ethical individual and an unbiased individual. Not fulfilling these requirements could result in a crisis situation within the department. The police department is not the only place a crisis can occur when the chief of police is not fulfilling his or her job as described in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The public tends to demand the chief of police to provide professional and cost-effective services while keeping criminal activity down, and stopping corruption and illegal use of force...
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...Unit #3 Question #3: Drawing on the “Law in Society” section of your text, discuss the nature of undercover police work, its benefits and its problems. Undercover police work is used by many law enforcement agencies all over the world. Unlike the movies that we see on TV where the police are working undercover to catch the bad guy, there are many side effects and hazards that go along with the job. However some will agree that it is a necessary evil in order for law enforcement to solve many crimes. There are three major functions that involve undercover police work. Intelligence is used to covertly investigate crimes past, future, and present. An example of this would be that an officer acts as if he/she is a friend to gather information about a crime. Second is prevention which is where a person is planted in a group to discourage violent acts from being committed. Last is facilitation or encouragement which is where officers act as either a victim or co-conspirator. This function is where entrapment is most likely to occur. Kenneth Neal Morris 62349 BCJ 240 Procedures in the Justice System Unit #3 Undercover work has to be evolving with society in order for it to be effective tool for law enforcement. After the 1970’s undercover work was in high demand, mostly focusing on white-collar crimes, organized crime and political corruption. Spending had risen in upwards of one hundred million dollars in 1995 for federal informants alone, not to mention...
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...Case Study: Police Corruption and Its Prevention Management Human Resources (CRJ535) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Title Page 1 Table of Contents 2 Abstract 3 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY Introduction and Background to the Problem 4 Definition 4-5 Prevention Begins With Leadership 5-7 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Psychology and Social Perspectives 7-9 Theories to Analyze Police Behavior 9-15 CHAPTER THREE: DISCUSSION Implications of Police Corruption and Conclusion 15-18 REFERENCES 19 Abstract Society has a responsibility to respect the community and of course, the police officers that protect the community. More often than not, society’s respect of police officers is nonexistent due to the constant media reports of police corruption and brutality. Police corruption has been around since its conception, but is now being publicized more heavily. As a result, mistrust of police officers has increased. Solutions to the mistrust must be discovered and implemented. Even more important than solution is prevention of police corruption and practices that will make the police reputation and actions more ethically sound. With appropriate discipline and prevention practices in place, integrity will be established within the organization and public trust will be established within the community. CHAPTER ONE Introduction and Background Police Corruption takes place when a police officer engages in an...
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...Local officials and the companies that sell and operate them love red light cameras, which are not called cameras in the law. Nearly everyone else, not so much. Why? Is Florida a hotbed of red light runners crashing into others? If you look at our traffic crash data over the past several years, you'll see that is not the case. My background is law enforcement. I worked for two years as a Florida deputy sheriff and the remaining 23 years of my 25-year career with the Florida Highway Patrol, where I worked as a trooper, traffic homicide investigator, and squad sergeant, and retired as an investigations lieutenant. I currently operate a small lobbying firm in Tallahassee that specializes in issues involving liberty. According to our Department of Highway Safety, red light running as a cause is around 2 to 3 percent of all crashes. One thing you will never see in any news story about the devices is how many red light running crashes are taking place to justify the need for these automated for-profit law enforcement devices. (Like the Florida Legislature, I don't call them red light cameras either.) Why didn't the Legislature call them red light cameras? It is simple really. Running a red light is a traffic infraction, as is speeding and passing a stopped school bus. It just so happens one automated for-profit company has devices for these other infractions. Calling the devices red light cameras would limit their use. Calling them traffic infraction detectors means they...
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...reports that at the end of 2010, there were 2,266,800 adults incarcerated in the U.S. federal and state prisons, and county jails (Prisoner Statistics, 2012). When one adds the reported 493,100 corrections staff working inside the prison or jail, the total number of people interacting on a daily basis in this closed society creates conditions where corruption at some level is likely to occur (Bureau, 2012). Research suggests corruption of correction officers, also known as detention officers, or guards is a serious issue that should be continually addressed by facility management because it occurs for many reasons and takes on many forms that can pervert the justice system. This paper will explain some main forms of corruption, give outrageous examples of documented corruption, and spell out why, given the ethics expected of the profession, corruption must be continually addressed and prevented. The first step for criminals is finding the officer with a mindset that can be corrupted. Low to median pay scales for these officers and an increase in offenders affiliated with the gang element of society has increased the potential for corruption related manipulation of prison staff (Diaz, 2009). “Corrections and law enforcement work by its very nature involves the...potential for gradual deterioration of social-moral inhibitions and perceived sense of permissibility for deviant conduct” (Barnhart, 2010a). There are those individuals who are corrupt that are weak individuals who passed...
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...pertaining to our American government. The police system that we currently use today has evolved tremendously since it first was established in 1626 while the United States was still under British control. However, some forms of American policing began a few years before 1626. When the colonists first became settled down in America, they realized they needed to keep order through out their towns. That is when the colonists formed the very first Justice Of Peace. It was fairly similar to the Bristish government that was in place during the time period because most of the new American inhabitants came from Great Britain or had British roots. The Justice of Peace was more responsible for dealing with criminals and deciding how they would be punished. However, not everyone was able to be a part of the Justice of Peace. All men who were able to perform work, were over the age of 18 and weren't part of the Justice of Peace were part of little town organizations that would patrol mostly at night and keep look out for the town's safety. The Rattle Watch Group, which was formed in 1610 and would stay in effect until 1664, patrolled from sunset to dawn. They were often seen carrying weapons and wooden rattles to signal the farmers and local colonists if they were in danger or in a threatning situations. You would often be able to spot them because they carried green laterns to show they were watchmen. This tradition still lives on. Some modern-day police agencies still hang green laterns on their...
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...A Flag in Disguise It is estimated that around 60,000 people have deceased in the Mexican drug war since 2006-2012(CNN). This is due largely to the steady flow of illicit narcotics in to the United States, the cache of weapons and ammunition that the United States is supplying Mexico, as well as the corruption on both sides of the border. The Mexican Drug War initially began about 2006 during the Felipe Calderon administration, with a short, but gruesome history to include death, drugs, weapons, trafficking and corruption. Police corruption often categorized as any form of misconduct, inappropriate or illegal action resulting in goods or favors exchanged. The amount of money that is involved in drug trade embellishes the corruption making...
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...Paper “Corruption In global Economies” Submitted to: Dr. Bernard Walker PHI421: Applying Ethics to Organization March 11, 2009 Submitted by: Paleh Boye-Weah ID Number: 721260 Cohort: BHE-07 Corruption, according to Rose-Ackerman is a “symptom that something has gone wrong in the management of the state” (Rose-Ackerman, 1999, pg. 9) Corruption rains from top government officials to civil servants and citizens. It causes high level of poverty, as wealth is not equally distributed amongst the people of the nation. Corruption due to exploitation of a country’s natural resources or human labor causes limits on investment and others to suffer as a result of poor circulation of public wealth, and these unethical practices leads to a hurting economy. “The number and variety of countries suffering corruptions scandals in recent years underscore the fact that corruption differs widely in its forms, pervasiveness and consequences”. (Elliott, 1996, Pg.1) Corruption in third world countries reduces economic growth, slows down economic development, and there may also be less severity in developed countries as many may not feel the glitch of corrupt officials or any effect as to whether it is actually occurring. It also benefits the few at the expense of the many; it delays and distorts economic development, preempts basic rights and due process, and diverts services, international aid and the whole economic. (Johnston, 2005, pg. 1) Corruption on the...
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...Jamaica 1 Overview of Country Jamaica is an island nation in the West Indies. The capital of Jamaica is Kingston. It lies about 480 miles south of Florida and is the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea. The only two island that are larger that is Cuba and Hispaniola. (The World Book Encyclopedia vol 11) Jamaica was inhabited by the Arawak Indians, who were the first people to live in Jamaica named the island Xaymaca, which means land of wood and water. They based their communites on fishing, hunting, and small scale cultivation of cassava. Due to the appearance of the Spanish the Arawak Indians disappeared in 70-80 years. The disruption of the economic system, new diseases, and migration decimated the population. When the Spanish took over the island they were disappointed with the absence of gold on the island the Spanish used Jamaica as a base for supporting the conquest of the Americas, with its treasures of gold and silver. (www.jamaicans.com) In 1655, Jamaica was captured by the British expedition led by Admirals Penn and Venables and they gain possession in 1670. It was very little the Spanish did to defend it from the British because of lack of gold and silver. They fight African slaves which they called Maroons. The British and Maroons signed a peace treaty in 1738. Sugar became the major crop, and the island ranked as it’s most important slave market in the Western...
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