Corruption and Methods to Reduce Corruption - Research Paper Example

October 15, Policing, Corruption and Methods to Reduce Corruption Introduction: The basic idea behind policing is to focus on prevention of crimes and other social disorders, in order to ensure peace and tranquility in a community. Policing also seeks the elimination of antisocial activities that hamper the peace and sanctity of people living in a society. There can be several obstacles in the matter of policing since this is a joint effort among the law enforcement departments and the people of a free country. Both require seeing eye to eye in many crucial subjects of crime and crime fighting, and require working hand in hand for achieving the desired objectives in fighting crime. Corruption is one of the major problems that the community confronts in the present day. Therefore, the law enforcement agencies need to evolve various methods to tackle the problems arising out of this evil. In many cases it happens that police themselves are corrupted. Thus, to prevent the occurrence of corruption in various circumstances, the government must adopt suitable measures to tackle the issue. The main idea behind policing all over the world is to dramatically decrease the rate and occurrence of corruption as well as to create a crime free zone. Proper implementation of policing can relieve onerous obligations and responsibilities of law enforcement agencies along with eliminating anti social conduct in its precepts. Besides, the use of non uniformed and civilian volunteer resources will add to a higher crime free atmosphere and also achieve the advantages of employing other enhancements. Sometimes, the police may misuse their own authority and resort to corruption which would in turn negatively affect the society. The society has grappled amidst various issues of corruption and misconduct since the time it was fended for by police officers. Throughout the mid-to-late nineteenth century, private police forces were common and agents of Pinkerton's as well as agents for-hire services turned out to be notorious as strong employers used violence and vehemently ended strikes. “The key federal criminal statute makes it unlawful for anyone acting with police authority to deprive or conspire to deprive another person of any right protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States (Section 18 U.S.C. § 241 [2000]). Another statute, commonly referred to as the police misconduct provision, makes it unlawful for state or local police to engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives persons of their rights (42 U.S.C.A. 14141 [2000]” (Police Corruption and Misconduct par. 5). Tim Newburn, in his article, ‘Understanding and Preventing Police Corruption: Lessons from the Literature’ defines the concept of police corruption. A police officer makes use of his or her position, by act or omission, to achieve improper monetary advantage, bribes and extra-job policy mistreatment, gratuities that may or may not be illegal. Various corruption practices of the police officers include bribery, fabrication or total destruction of relevant evidence, aggression and brutality, racial discrimination and favoritism or discrimination. These are the common ways of corruption that one can see in the society. Factors that may cause corruption are: a) Stable or constant aspect (factors)- Discretion, low administrative visibility, low community visibility, peer group confidentiality, managerial confidentiality, problems related to status and influence of law breakers. b) Variable aspect (factors) - Community configuration, organizational features, social association of corruption, legal chances for corruption, control of corruption and finally ethical cynicism. (Newburn 1999). Rich Martin, M.S in his article ‘Police Corruption an Analytical Look into Police Ethics’, says that the enforcement of police could relieve the onerous duties and responsibilities of law enforcement agencies in this country and is expected to reduce crime and anti social conduct in its precepts. Also the ethics associated with enforcement of law have to be catered for by a police officers in the discharge of their duties adequately adhering to needs of loyalty to the nation and integrity. (Martin 2011) Arshrika Singh, in the article, ‘Corruption in police’ explains about the two aspects of corruption- internal and external. With regard to the department of police, internal corruption refers to immoral contracts or acts in the police department by more than one police officer. External corruption includes immoral contracts and acts accomplished through public due to the influence of a corruptive police officer. One of the most significant components of police corruption is the misuse of individual achievement and authority. It is a violation of the human rights, therefore, if a police officer violates this, it affects the people in that society. Besides, the aspect of setting up robust police or citizen partnerships in thwarting the evil of corruption, it is also essential to implement a greater degree of responsibility and answerability by decentralizing decision making and enforcement power as well as fixing specific environmental territories which would be entrusted to a person or group of law enforcement officers. They should encourage determined targets with reference to strategic policing and its many field actions and  target programs. (Singh 2007) According to Pauline Go in his article, ‘Police Corruption and the Reasons Behind,’ corruption exists within the police force because nowadays majority of the police officers are profit minded and, therefore, they start to utilize their official position to earn more profit. There are various reasons for police to turn into a hostile corruptive force. Various factors related to police corruption are the monetary temptations that force a particular officer to disobey law and order. The best way to decrease corruption among police officers is to manage it through a variety of prevention policies and introduce reforms at all times. Police corruption must not be mistaken with reference to all police officers. (Pauline Go 2011) Main element in every type of corruption is personal profit. It may be criminal or non-criminal corruption. One of the examples of criminal corruption is bribe. It is a criminal offence. An example of non-criminal type of police corruption is the violation of extra work policy or obtaining gratuities of the police department. (Jocelyn M Pollock 2011) A police officer, who is normally expected to set the example of honesty and integrity, gets tempted to be corrupt. “Poor and erratic police pay can lead to corruption, and increasing police salaries is a common prescription for tackling the problem. Conventional wisdom views salaries as an important component of anticorruption strategies, but one that cannot be relied upon as a stand-alone policy for two reasons” (Neild 14). First, chances for the corruption by the police officer are frequent because they are assigned on tasks of tackling crime and criminals will not have problems in parting with money to escape punishment. The police also remain in an advantageous position because being the keepers of law they have lesser chances of getting caught. Another reason is that the majority of the criminals belong to criminals who are the affiliates of organized crime syndicates who are protected by political elites, high ranking government officials or the rich and powerful. They have adequate resources to bribe of huge amounts that dwarf police salary. Although pay raises can offer a sum that can meet basic requirements of life, this may not be able to provide many comforts that a policeman expects. Thus, the system need to be more practical ways to check crime and to award penalties as a more balanced approach by way of a superior chance for success (Neild 2007). Safeguards against the misconduct of police exist throughout every law. Every police department creates codes of conduct, teach new staff, and examine and discipline officers. “Protections are also found in state law, which permits victims to sue police for damages in civil actions. Typically, these actions are brought for claims such as the use of excessive force ("police brutality"), false arrest and imprisonment, Malicious Prosecution, and Wrongful Death. State actions may be brought simultaneously with additional claims for constitutional violations” (Police Corruption and Misconduct par. 4). Conclusion: Totally eliminating corruption on the part of police officers is an impossible task, yet it is necessary to construct mechanisms that can detect or perceive and reduce corruption. If corruption is reduced, it will surely support the culture of honesty in policing. Corruption in police challenges the trust of public and its cooperation in prevention of crime, investigation and discovery. It diverts resources and challenges operational capability as well as causes organized offense and the victimization of susceptible groups for example trafficked ladies and children and even immigrants. It is also seen that corruption is connected with support for terrorists and subversive groups. Police officers can and should examine corruption cases and implement various anti-corruption laws. However, if they themselves are corrupted, they definitely will do no such things. So the government must adopt anti-corruption methods that can help overcome the problems. When police is involved in corrupt political associations, they will encourage anti-democratic acts and may even shore up totalitarian regimes. When they are complicit with, or engaged in illegal activity, they disregard their job of working for the welfare of the society and take up the role of instilling insecurity, rather than safety, in the minds of the people. It is essential to speak to police corruption in any setting, but it must be a conflict ridden and intermediary settings, it may be not possible to construct the public safety circumstances necessary to accomplish a lasting harmony without address corruption of the police officer. Work Cited Neild, Rachel. USAID Program Brief: Anticoruption and Police Integrity: Security Sector Reform Program. USAID from the American People. 2007. Web. 15 Oct. Police Corruption and Misconduct. Farlex, Inc. 2011. Web. 15 Oct. Read More