rruption in the United States, providing a theoretical analysis of the causes of this set of practices and then moving to an analysis of the causes and effects of police corruption in two specific locales. These locales are, respectively, New York City and Los Angeles û two of AmericaÆs premier cities that have, in recent years, reverberated to calls for police department reform (Witkin, 1995). The argument will be advanced that only through concerted action, in which government, police agencies and officials, and the general public are involved, will corrupt practices and behaviors among duly constituted law enforcement officials and departments be identified, punished, and ended.
Theoretical Explanations of the Causes of Police Corruption
Frank L. Perry (2001) notes that in the last two decades, research and commentary regarding the causes and effects of law enforcement corruption have intensified and diversified. In the United States, Australia, Canada, and Great Britain, research has been undertaken to identify the symptoms of police corruption and their remedies. Emerging democracies in Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Pacific Rim are now confronted by the immediate and often stark realities of the police role in self-governance. Perry (2001) maintains that when comparative reviews of problems and best practices, combined with academic research are examined, what emerges is the suggestion that corruption follows certain predictable routes and the precursory signs occur prior to any actual quid pro quo corrupt activity.
Based on an analysis of the literature, Perry (2001) echoes earlier work by Punch (1985) and Delattre (1996), who argued that three organizational failures have the potential to foster a resentful, cynical, and demoralized workforce leading to individual and collective acts of corruption. These failures are:
Little or ineffective discipline and deselection
of trainees via a commitment to fairl...