Abstract
This paper examines police corruption and its root causes, recruitment, training, resources and supervision. Other theories of corruption are explored as well, including the temptation for the abuse of the wide latitude of discretion that is afforded to the law enforcement community. The two types of corruption monetary and police criminal activity are reviewed including examples of both from several of the more infamous police scandals. The changes that have occurred in corruption from the past to the modern error of domestic terror threats are discussed. Finally, potential solutions to the problem of police corruption are analyzed.

Tags:police, corruption, causes

Abstract
The paper discusses how corruption is an old as bureaucracy itself, and the police forces of various countries are no exception. However, the paper relates that from the late 1960s to the present, the problem of police corruption in the United States has both gotten worse and gone underground. This paper explores three reasons for the increasing tempo and intensity of police corruption: the increasing power of organized crime (particularly in the world of drugs), declining police budgets, and the emergence and strengthening of a culture of corruption. The conclusion is that corruption is no longer an episodic anomaly but an ingrained part of the environment in which policing itself takes place.

From the Paper
"This paper relates how police corruption, although as old as the institution of civil protection, has taken on new urgency thanks to the increasing power of organized crime, declining police budgets, and the emergence of a culture of corruptibility. Corruption is an old as bureaucracy itself, and the police forces of various countries are no exception. However, from the late 1960s to the present, the problem of police corruption in the United States has both gotten worse and gone underground. This paper explores three reasons for..."

Tags:police, corruption, louisiana

Abstract
This paper gives a factual account of the development of police corruption to the peak it is at today. It speaks of the social contract by which police are to abide, remaining small and dedicated to preserving the safety and law of the land. However, explains the author, as time went on the police force came to be increasingly relied on as an instrument of political and racial power. Recently, police brutality is especially directed to certain American racial and political minorities. This paper concludes that riots and outbursts against police brutality from the minorities will continue until the government puts an end to police corruption.

From the Paper
"America's founding fathers were militant revolutionaries. This nation was built upon social contract theory, the idea that the government exists by the will of the people and that they are obligated to obey only so long as that government operates in a moral fashion and in the best interests of its subjects. For many years the police forces of this nation followed the spirit of a social contract, remaining small and dedicated to preserving the safety and law of the land. However, as time went on the police force came to be increasingly relied on as an instrument of political and racial power. World War I saw the beginning of the police as an anti-protest and anti-civil rights weapon. Their roles in putting down political and racial protest came to maturity during the 1960s, as they turned their fire against war protests and race riots. In recent years, the blatant racist and political nature of police power has hidden behind a shield of anti-terrorist and anti-drug action. The ACLU writes that, "From the outset, the war on drugs has in fact been a war on people and their constitutional rights, with African Americans, Latinos and other minorities bearing the brunt of the damage." Racial profiling and police brutality daily threaten the lives of American racial and political minorities, while the government turns a blind eye. "The see-no-evil policy of the feds toward police violence comes at a time when the number of police abuse complaints has soared nationally. The Department gets about 15, 000 complaints yearly." "

Tags:police, government, law, civil-rights, corruption, social, contract, minorities, race, drugs, riots

Abstract
The paper examines police corruption, the abuse of police authority for personal gain or advantage. The paper describes police corruption as criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and police violence, accepting bribes and overlooking crimes when they involve family or friends. The paper further examines how police corruption may also involve depriving citizens of their legal rights. These actions include discriminating against minorities, unlawful searches, sexual assault, and deliberate fabrication of evidence. The paper discusses case studies of investigations into police corruption, and concludes that the fight against corruption is likely to be a long one as police corruption is prevalent in today's society.

From the Paper
"Police corruption is often seen as a victimless crime because the victim is a neighborhood rather than an individual. In many cases, most of the attention goes to the officers who are guilty of corruption, rather than the psychological and social effects police corruption has on the victims and their communities."

Tags:Amnesty, International, drug, testing, victim, community, FBI

Abstract
The paper looks at how police officers can gradually become engaged in criminal corruption during their careers. The paper focuses on the notorious case of Michael Corbitt who was actually already a criminal when he managed to become a police officer.

Outline:
Introduction
Police Corruption
From Criminality to Policing

From the Paper
"The case of Michael Corbitt exemplified the extent to which Chicago organized crime ("the outfit") dominated both local politics and policing throughout Chicago and much of the rest of Illinois until as recently as a few decades ago. In many respects, Michael Corbitt's situation differed from the usual course of the devolution of honest police officers into criminal corruption, simply because Corbitt's connection to crime preceded his entrance into the criminal justice system.
"This is actually the reverse of the more common or "typical" pattern disclosed in numerous studies of corrupt police officers in general. This was mainly a function of the larger corruption of the city of Chicago and of many surrounding areas including Willow Springs, Illinois, where Corbitt would eventually become Chief of Police."

Tags:misconduct, criminal, Chicago, Outfit

Abstract
In this article, the writer reviews the movie 'Serpico' that shows police corruption or cops above the law. The writer addresses many scenes in the movie that depict this type of behavior from a pro-police perspective. The writer explains that 'Serpico' is based on a true story of a New York policeman newly graduated from the police academy who discovers dishonesty throughout the police department. The writer discusses that this movie tells about Frank Serpico dealing with crooked police officers in the early 1970s in New York City. The writer believes that this movie is very accurate of what was going on during that time when many police officers lost their jobs and were even prosecuted.

From the Paper
"Serpico gets transferred to another precinct in Manhattan where he finds out that they are also taking money. Serpico and his new partner tell the Chief what is going on but the Chief wants to protect Commissioner Delaney. Serpico realizes that no one is going to do anything about corrupt police departments and decides to go to The New York Times. The mayor appoints an investigation commission of a five man committee headed by Whitman Knapp to review the city procedures for investigating police corruption.
"Serpico gets transferred to the narcotics division. He is on a stakeout with other officers and gets shot in the face. None of the other officers come to his aid but he does survive. Serpico appears at the Knapp commission and testifies about the police corruption."

Tags:cops, dishonesty, officer, investigation

Abstract
This paper examines drug related police corruption and efforts to prevent it. It focuses on the benefits of community policing in preventing and detecting drug related police corruption.

Abstract
This paper examines and analyzes the history and effects of police corruption in American society. Past and present examples of police corruption are included from many large American cities, and current trends are discussed.

Abstract
The paper discusses how the small act of accepting a free lunch could lead to a police officer eventually engaging in larger acts of corruption. The paper then looks at the theories that have emerged considering this morally depraved behavior, specifically, the structural/affiliation theory, the society at large theory and the rotten apple hypothesis. The paper contends that in order to prevent corruption, there needs to be greater accountability for public officials as well as greater auditing and punishment when officials are found guilty of these types of unethical acts.

From the Paper
"When public officials, such as police officers, accept gifts from members of the public the act can seem innocent enough but could in fact lead to bigger acts of corruption or unfair or unequal processes in society. For example if police officers receive gratuities from one business in a community, such a free lunch at a restaurant, the perception of other businesses members in the community is that the police favor that particular business or the police will provide that business better security over the business that does not provide the police officers with gifts.
"Another perceived reason the gift can be considered an act of corruption is it can lead to bigger acts of corruption. Many people in society have suggested that the first step toward a police officer becoming corrupt is the acceptance of gratuities. For example if a police officer accept small gifts this will eventually lead to them accepting larger gifts or for the police officer to engage in what's known as a continuum of graft stages, suggested by Lawrence Sherman, which is gradual stages of gift accepting that leads to full blown corruption (Coleman, 2004).
"The small acts of accepting a free lunch could lead to a police officer eventually engaging in larger corruptions. The slippery slope refers to the slide in the public official's behavior from what would be considered harmless gift giving to behavior that is considered corruptive. This corruptive behavior can lead to a loss of trust by members of the public and disruption in justice. The best policy is to establish policies and procedures that forbid public officials from accepting any type of gift to avoid the appearance of morally depraved behavior."

Tags:gratuities, slippery, slope

From the Paper
" The purpose of this paper is to discuss the topic of police corruption. It will consider the nature of police corruption and the extent of the problem as well as the various possible causes for it. It will additionally provide case examples regarding police corruption that have appeared in news articles in recent years. Finally, the paper will consider suggestions for possible remedies to the problem of police corruption.


Police corruption has been defined as the "misuse of authority by a police officer in a manner designed to produce personal gain for the officer or for others" (Carter and Stephens 6). Corruption in this sense can take on a variety of forms. For example, an unscrupulous officer may indulge in corrupt practices for the purpose of financial gain. In another instance, an officer may engage in corruption in order to cover..."

Tags:CRIMINAL JUSTICE: POLICE SCIENCE