Exam 6: Police Ethics--A Contextual Overview

In a police officer's moral career, which stage involves an officer developing justifications for their unethical or illegal behavior?

The term "noble cause" has been used to describe the ideals and obligations of police officers associated with protecting the innocent and identifying and arresting criminals, even if doing so puts officers' lives in jeopardy.

Scholars have suggested which of the following affects or helps shape the ethical climate of police agencies?

A police agency characterized by widespread unethical or illegal behavior will usually have experienced a breakdown of the agency's formal:

The _________________ of police officers describes the change that occurs in recruits' identities as they move through the various stages of recruitment and academy and field training.

Some scholars have argued that ethical policing isn't solely a product of the moral fabric of individuals but instead is a product of the moral fabric of the organization.

The _________________ of policing describes officers' duty to protect the innocent and identify and arrest criminals, even if doing so puts their lives in jeopardy.

The value-neutral perspective argues that police officer recruits and hires are socialized into the police culture as they experience training by, and other influences from, departments.

Ethical questions arising with the police and the moral dilemmas officers confront do not necessarily relate to the functions of police per se.

Minor goods or services given by a member of the public to a police officer for any number of reasons and that may raise ethical issues are called:

This term describes the ideal that police officers protect the innocent and identify and arrest criminals, even if doing so puts their lives in jeopardy.

Rotten apples theory is often used to explain the misbehavior of a particular police officer.

The ____________ of police ethics includes individuals, organizations, and communities.

First described by Lawrence Sherman, the ________________ of a police officer describes distinct experiences that move an officer from behaviors grounded in the "noble cause" of policing and a desire to protect person and property to behaviors contrary to departmental, legal, and societal standards.

Recruiting to the status quo describes a process whereby police departments recruit and hire those whose skills, character and values are similar to the skills, character, and values of those already in the field.

Despite their presence at the top of the organizational hierarchy, police chiefs have little impact on the ethical climate of their agency.

Discuss the debate over whether the police should accept minor gratuities. What are the key arguments for both sides? Where do you stand and why? What policy(ies) would you implement to discourage or allow gratuities?

In discussions regarding police misconduct, there is often talk of rotten apples, rotten barrels, and rotten communities. Discuss which of these you think is the bigger contributor to police misconduct and justify your argument using information contained in Chapter 6)

Rotten barrels theory is a community-based explanation for police misconduct.

Use of force, time, fringe benefits, and loyalty are examples of _________ found in the police culture.