Police Subculture, Code of Silence, and Misconduct Flashcards
What is the average amount of time for an officer to commit misconduct?
10 years
What are other names the Blue Code is known as?
-Blue shield
-Blue wall
-Curtain
-Veil
-Cocoon
What is the blue code of silence?
An unwritten rule among officers in the US not to report on a colleague’s errors, misconducts, or crimes
What is the social character of police shaped by?
Bravery, autonomy, and secrecy
What is the dominant cultural theme?
The idea that the police are socially isolated from the rest of society
What is the second important cultural theme (related to dominant culture)?
the need for police solidarity
What question is asked in personality theory?
Does the police profession attract certain personality types?
What question is asked in the anthropological model?
Does training form and shape personality types?
What question is asked by the sociological theory?
Does police “street culture” influence and shape police culture?
What instructions do postulates that reinforce the need for police secrecy and solidarity give?
Never “give up” another cop and watch out for other police
Postulates that support police isolationism instruct police to do protect themselves by doing what?
Being wary of everyone
What is the ethos of bravery (postulates instruct officers on this)?
Never back down; be aggressive but not overeager in handling situations
What percent of individuals pressuring officers to keep quiet about misconduct were leaders?
73%
What percent of academy recruits said that a law enforcement Code of Silence exists and is common?
79%
What percent of academy recruits said that a Code of Silence doesn’t bother them?
52%
What percent of academy recruits said that the Code of Silence is more justified when excessive force involves an abusive citizen?
24%
What percent of academy recruits said that they wouldn’t tell on another officer for having sex on duty?
46%
What percent of academy recruits said they wouldn’t tell on another cop for regularly using weed off duty?
23%
What percent of the 509 officers who admitted to intentionally withholding information about misconduct were upper administrators?
8%
What was the most frequent situation over which the Code of Silence occurs?
Excessive force
Of the 532 who confessed they had participated in the Code of Silence, how many were pressured to keep quiet?
252
Who is Donna Watts?
A female cop who detained a police officer that was going over the speed limit
