Annotated Bibliography on Corruption

Barker, T. (2011). Police ethics: Crisis in law enforcement. Springfield, IL: Thomas.

This book deals with problems experienced in law enforcement that demonstrate the inability of police officers to make lawful decisions. Chapter 8 deals specifically with police corruption and identifies three elements that exist in police corruption. The first is, the behave must be forbidden, the second is misuse of officer's position, and third, the reward. Although this chapter offers no study, it does provide a look into what the definition of corruption is along with a possible explanation for the prevalence of corruption amongst police officers and law enforcement in general.

Block, C. (2015, December 30). Florida Police Under Investigation for Laundering $55.6 Million For Drug Cartels. Retrieved from http://www.mintpressnews.com/212404-2/212404/

A newspaper article, this source discusses police corruption in Miami. Florida cops that work for the Bal Harbour Police Department have allegedly laundered an estimated $55.6 million for criminal organizations like drug cartels via the cover provided by a joint task force operation. The laundering allotted the police officers a profit of $2.4 million. When on assignment under the operation, they often stayed at luxurious hotels. By showing how corruption exists in a concrete way, this article shows the effects of corruption on police officers.

Eitle, D., D'Alessio, S. J., & Stolzenberg, L. (2014). The Effect of Organizational and Environmental Factors on Police Misconduct. Police Quarterly, 17(2), 103-126. doi:10.1177/1098611114522042

This is an observational study that examines the relation among police environmental and organizational factors as well as police misconduct. The researchers use information derived from a 2009-2010 National Police Misconduct Statistics and Reporting Project. Through the use of a negative binomial regression analysis, they saw that the violent crime rate presents as the singular environmental variable influence corruption in the form of police misconduct. The study provides a synthesis of information that can lead to a discovery of what specifically fuels corruption in law enforcement: police officers.

Elbahnasawy, N. G. (2014). E-Government, Internet Adoption, and Corruption: An Empirical Investigation. World Development, 57, 114-126. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.12.005

An empirical study investigating the influence of internet adoption as well as e-government on diminishing corruption through the utilization of a big panel dataset. The researchers revealed that the e-government serves as a useful and powerful in curbing corruption through telecommunication infrastructure along with online services that promote increased internet adoption. Internet adoption and e-government can serve as chief aspects of an anti-corruption program. With so much literature on recognizing corruption, it is important to research ways that lessen corruption in law enforcement.

Kim, C. (2013). Anti-Corruption Initiatives and E-Government: A Cross-National Study. Public Organization Review, 14(3), 385-396. doi:10.1007/s11115-013-0223-1

This is a quantitative study using statistical examination of aggregate data of over two-hundred nations that discovered relationships among anti-corruption and e-government within government. Results showed that the use of e-government can act as an effective tool to lessen government corruption because it is an excellent means of understanding and carrying out laws. Researchers also discovered e-government is fortified thanks to high-quality public bureaucracies. This can be used to provide solutions for the corruption faced in law enforcement among police officers in the United States. The researchers also noted increased transparency as a means of decreasing government corruption.

Lee, H., Lim, H., Moore, D. D., & Kim, J. (2013). How police organizational structure correlates with frontline officers' attitudes toward corruption: a multilevel model. Police Practice and Research, 14(5), 386-401. doi:10.1080/15614263.2011.635483

An observational and cross-examination study analyzing the direct effect of police organizational structure on police corruption through an understanding of the direct effect of officer misconduct from supervisor tolerance. The results showed that the deviant subculture and attitudes of supervisors can largely determine the likelihood of corruption from line officers. If police officers are given minimal consequences regarding unlawful behavior, they may be more inclined to continue such negative behaviors. This is a clear representation of how organizational structure can have an impact on police corruption.

Light, M. (2013). Police reforms in the Republic of Georgia: the convergence of domestic and foreign policy in an anti-corruption drive. Policing and Society, 24(3), 318-345. doi:10.1080/10439463.2013.784289

The Soviet Union has experience tremendous reforms that have decreased corruption among its governments. This observational study examines the nature and scope of reforms in the police departments of the post-Soviet region of Georgia. The researchers discovered that police reforms came from the aftermath of the new government where the Georgian government remains internationally/domestically embattled. It is important to see real-world examples of police corruption resolved or diminished. Such examples can bring forth a discovery of what strategies can be effective against police corruption.

Miller, S. (2016, June 7). Florida Cops Break the Law and Continue Working | Miami New Times. Retrieved from http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/in-florida-cops-flout-the-law-and-continue-working-8506418

Another new article source, this story highlights the occurrence of police corruption and the positive consequences from unlawful action. Although the Florida police officer filed a false report, he continued working, facing no negative repercussions for his actions. The author notes the reason being that state regulations generated to safeguard law enforcement agents, removes accountability, permitting more rights than a non-police officer. If police officers are allowed to lie and file false reports, this can explain why corruption has increased in the United States despite the inclusion of body cameras and increase media attention. This serves as a means to understanding increasing corruption in the United States.

Rose-Ackerman, S. (2013). Corruption: A Study in Political Economy. Burlington: Elsevier Science.

This book deals with corruption in several forms. However later in the book, it covers police corruption and how there is a growing need for structural reform. Although the need for structural reform is there, it is often a difficult task to undertake due to the nature of the job of police officer. This is due to the need for police officers to patrol neighborhoods either as singles or in pairs. It would be too difficult to supervise every person. The author shows why solutions may not be available to remedy the problem due to the nature of being police officer and the difficulty of supervising them.