Criminal Violations by Police and Correctional Officers
This paper examines criminal violations committed by police and correctional officers, framing them within the broader concept of deviance in criminal justice work. It distinguishes between procedural, civil, and criminal violations while surveying the most prevalent forms of misconduct — including perjury, brutality, sexual violence, and profanity. The paper explores the environmental and individual factors that contribute to these violations, noting the role of limited supervision and the demanding nature of law enforcement and correctional work. It concludes by outlining major efforts undertaken to address police and correctional misconduct, such as external oversight, improved recruitment and training, and enhanced accountability measures.
- Introduction: Framing deviance and the slippery slope in criminal justice
- Deviance in Criminal Justice Work: Defining deviance, misconduct, and violation subcategories
- Types of Criminal Violations by Police and Correctional Officers: Overview of common violation types and reform efforts
- Specific Forms of Misconduct: Perjury, brutality, sexual violence, and profanity explained
- Addressing Criminal Violations: Oversight, training, and accountability as remedies
- Conclusion: Causes and persistence of officer misconduct summarized
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What makes this paper effective
- It establishes clear definitional boundaries early, distinguishing deviance, misconduct, and the subcategories of procedural, civil, and criminal violations before moving into specific examples.
- Each type of violation is treated in its own focused section, making the argument easy to follow and well-organized for a survey paper.
- The paper grounds abstract concepts in concrete examples, such as "dropsy evidence" for perjury, giving readers tangible illustrations of each violation type.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of taxonomy — systematically categorizing a broad subject (police/correctional deviance) into nested subcategories (procedural, civil, criminal) and then further into named types (perjury, brutality, sexual violence, profanity). This technique allows the writer to impose structure on a complex topic and signal academic rigor through organized, hierarchical analysis.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a contextual introduction establishing the "slippery slope" framing, followed by a definitional section on deviance. The core section inventories specific violation types with brief explanations of each. A shorter section surveys institutional responses — oversight, recruitment, training, and accountability — before a concise conclusion that ties causes back to the nature of criminal justice work itself. This classic problem-types-solutions arc is appropriate for an introductory criminal justice survey paper.
Introduction
The work of law enforcement and correctional officers revolves around a slippery slope — the likelihood of a slow worsening of social and moral inhibitions and a shifting perception of what constitutes permissible conduct. Generally, law enforcement and police officers are mandated with the task of maintaining law and order in society by dealing with crime and criminals. Correctional officers, on the other hand, assist in the incarceration and rehabilitation of convicted criminals as those individuals serve their sentences.
As a result, both law enforcement and correctional officers are expected to carry out their work with extreme professionalism and without any deviant conduct. While the general public holds enormous expectations of these professionals, it tends to overlook the inherently difficult nature of the work. Criminal justice work involves dealing with situations that routinely fall below ordinary comfort levels. The nature of this work has contributed to the emergence of the concept of correctional deviance, which encompasses all activities that are inconsistent with the regulations, values, and ethics of criminal justice practice.
References
Barnhart, T. E. (2010, February 15). Deviance and corruption. Retrieved November 30, 2013, from http://www.corrections.com/news/article/23579-deviance-and-corruption
Bayley, D., & Perito, R. (n.d.). Police corruption — What past scandals teach about current challenges. Retrieved November 30, 2013, from http://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/SR%20294.pdf
Martin, R. (2011, May). Police corruption — An analytical look into police ethics. Retrieved from the Federal Bureau of Investigation website:
"Worse than the disease: Law enforcement officers committing sexual violence in the line of duty." (n.d.). Tech Dirt. Retrieved November 30, 2013, from http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20131125/16525225366/worse-than-disease-law-enforcement-officers-committing-sexual-violence-line-duty.shtml
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