A Typology of Police Corruption

Abstract

This paper postulates an empirical typology of police corruption derived from a content analysis of the literature (1960-1972) and the police work experience of one of the authors. Police corruption is analyzed as a form of organizational deviance hinging primarily on informal police peer group norms. Contradictions among formal norms, informal norms, and situational rules are indicated. Eight types of police corruption are delineated: (l) Corruption of Authority, (2) Kickbacks, (3) Opportunistic Theft, (4) Shakedowns, (5) Protection of Illegal Activities, (6) The Fix, (7) Direct Criminal Activities, and (8) Internal Payoffs. The types are analyzed along several dimensions: (1) acts and actors, (2) norm violations, (3) support from peer group, (4) organizational degree of deviant practices, and (5) police department's reactions.