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Police (Mis) Behavior: A Cross-Cultural Study of Corruption Seriousness

NCJ Number
212276
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management Volume: 28 Issue: 3 Dated: 2005 Pages: 546-566
Author(s)
Sanja Kutnjak Ivkovic
Date Published
2005
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study examined the degree to which police officers in different countries have similar assessments of the seriousness of various types of police misconduct.
Abstract
The authors surveyed police officers in Croatia (n=1,649), Finland (n=378), and the United States (n=3,235). All respondents offered opinions on the severity of police corruption described in 10 scenarios, as well as 1 scenario that described police use of excessive force. This study characterized "police corruption" as "an action or omission, a promise of action or omission, or an attempt of action or omission, committed by a police officer or a group of police officers, characterized by the police officer's misuse of the official position motivated in significant part with the achievement of personal gain" (Kutnjak Ivkovic, 2005). The heterogeneous opinions across the three countries pertained to the least serious scenarios, such as off-duty employment, the acceptance of gratuities, or the use of excessive force. More homogeneous assessments were found for the most serious cases, such as the kickback, a bribe, or the theft of found property. Relative evaluations of seriousness were similar across the three countries. Overall, the findings show that police officers in three countries with diverse legal, economic, social, and political environments share a common view of the seriousness of various types of police misconduct. 5 tables, 4 notes, 30 references, and appended study scenarios