Exam 3.3 Flashcards
1
Q
What is police corruption?
A
Dishonorable acts by a police officer that places his/her personal gain ahead of duty
2
Q
What defines corrupt acts?
A
- Forbidden by law, rule, regulation, or ethical standard
- Misuse of officer’s position of power
- Involves actual/expected material gain
3
Q
What are meat eaters?
A
- Coined by Knapp Commission
- Describes officers who frequently engage in corrupt/unlawful practices while performing their duties
4
Q
What is misfeasance?
A
- Taking inappropriate action/intentionally giving incorrect information that affects another person
- Result of carelessness or error, but not with the intention to cause harm
5
Q
What is malfeasance?
A
- Any act based either on illegality, a disregard to law enforcement code of ethics, or a disregard to departmental police
- Committed knowingly
- Ex. use of excessive force, not taking action when witnessing a crime
6
Q
What is corruption of authority?
A
- Most widespread category of police misconduct
- Unauthorized material gains
- Ex. discounts, free drinks, commercial sex
7
Q
What are kickbacks?
A
- Type of police corruption
- Practice of obtaining goods, services, or money for business referrals by police officers
- Ex. attorneys, doctors, auto shops, etc.
8
Q
What are shakedowns?
A
- Type of corruption
- Officers taking money/other valuables and personal services from offenders that they have caught during the commission of a crime
- Ex. drug dealers, pimps, motorists
9
Q
What is opportunistic theft?
A
- Type of misconduct
- Officers stealing money/other valuables during their duties
- Ex. stealing from victims or from a crime scene
10
Q
What is the protection of illegal activities?
A
- Considered the most severe type of misconduct
- Officers taking money/valuables in exchange for protection against crime
11
Q
What is excessive use of force?
A
- “Police brutality”
- Form of malfeasance
- Officers overextending their legal authority by using excessive force to make an arrest or to coerce individuals into giving information
12
Q
What are some causes of police misconduct among individual officers?
A
- Character flaws
- Inadequate background checks
- Unfavorable economic conditions (low wages)
13
Q
What are some causes of police misconduct among agencies?
A
- Corrupt environment teaches improper behaviors to officers
- Code of silence
- Fear of retaliation from coworkers/supervisors
14
Q
How could society help prevent police misconduct?
A
Collective organized effort to eliminate corrupt practices
* Citizens stop offering bribes
* Citizens start reporting illegal activities
15
Q
What is noble cause corruption?
A
- Type of misconduct
- Violating the law to carry out what officers perceive to be the greater good
- Vigilante-like mentality as a result of misconduct going unchecked
