Police Corruption

Answer

Police Corruption Discussion

Police corruption presents as one of the main social challenges. There are four main forms of police corruption. In external corruption, it is manifested as police conduct their daily activities. These include bribery and extortions (Carr, 2017). For instance, an individual caught speeding should be served with a speeding ticket and be charged in court. However, the police may request for money as a bribe to avoid writing the ticket. Another example as demonstrated in The Young Turks (2018) video is carrying of fake guns and placing them on an individual the police have hit as confessed by Detective Morris. According to the video, this is the reason for many toy guns. Another form of police corruption is protecting illegal activities. While the central roles of police are conducting investigations on criminals such as drug dealers, the law enforcers themselves may get directly involved with the drug dealers, offer them protection, or take drugs as bribes. The third form of police corruption is stealing at an opportunity. This occurs as police conduct their daily activities. As depicted from The Young Turks (2018) video, among the main activities is busting drug dealers and homes without warrants. In the example provided, the squad busted a drug dealer and took $6500 only to follow later and take $1000 from a safe of the drug dealer. The other form of corruption occurs within the police force where the top law enforcers are aware of individuals within the force accused of gross misconduct but allow its continuous.

Knapp and Wickersham's commissions set out to investigate the rise in police-related crimes and corruptions to develop effective interventions. From Wickersham commission, the main themes were police involvement in corrupting the social justice systems and engagement in massive misconduct such as coercing witnesses, fabricating evidence, bribery, and entrapment (Powers, 2015). Further, it was found that police willingly inflicted pain on criminals and demonstrated brutality. From Knapp’s commission, the main findings were also on police corruption and misconduct. Examples of the misconduct involved the police enforcing prostitution, the sale of narcotics, and gambling. As a result of police misconduct and corruption in New York, there was an increase in narcotics trade which resulted in other forms of crimes. In both commissions, the police were identified by taking bribes from the criminals to allow the illicit activities to continue (Corsianos, 2015). The two commissions were essential in establishing ways through which the police department could be enhanced, and addressing the challenges.

Based on Knapp’s and Wickersham commissions, profound and innovative interventions are imperative to address police corruption and misconduct. Four of the innovative approaches to address these challenges include providing better education and training for the officers, the use of advanced technology in tracking criminals, encouraging the public’s participation in reporting police-related crimes, and prosecuting police caught in engaging in illegal activities (Carr, 2017). Providing better training and education is aimed at equipping the police with competent professional skills in conducting their daily activities such as leadership and combating crime. Further, educating them on morals and values such as not taking bribes and the effect of corruption on social welfare may aid in curbing criminal activities. The use of advanced technology includes ICT in tracking criminals. An example is the use of drones in conducting police chase and raids to ensure openness in the activities. Encouraging the public to report any misconduct aids in establishing areas that need improvement and prosecuting those found culpable in corruption and misconduct.