Stephen A. Bishopp, John Worrall and Nicole Leeper Piquero
The purpose of this paper is to examine the utility of general strain theory in explaining the relationship between organizational stress and police deviance.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the utility of general strain theory in explaining the relationship between organizational stress and police deviance.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from a non-random sample of 1,389 police officers in three large cities in Texas. The survey instrument used for this research was the Police Work Experience Survey. Results from regression analyses are presented.
Findings
Findings showed that the organization influenced police misconduct, but misconduct was dependent upon the specific type of strain encountered.
Research limitations/implications
Results show that instances of police deviance depend on the types of strains encountered. Additionally, anger plays a significant role when examining organizational strain. Police administrators should move to reduce organizational strains to reduce instances of police misconduct.
Originality/value
Currently, there is very little theoretical work in understanding police misconduct. And no studies have drawn linkages between organizational stressors and self-reported officer misconduct. At a time when police behavior is at the forefront of the social policy reform, the examination of potential correlates of police misconduct is the first step toward controlling it.
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Although textiles is one of the oldest crafts and goes back to prehistory—it is believed that weaving grew up in the neolithic or later stone age—our modern civilization is…
Abstract
Although textiles is one of the oldest crafts and goes back to prehistory—it is believed that weaving grew up in the neolithic or later stone age—our modern civilization is producing such rapid and numerous developments in so many aspects of the subject that the individual is hard put to keep up with only a fraction of them.
The argument is presented that, is contrast to expectations, the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA) of 2000 will not be responsible for significant change in the practice…
Abstract
The argument is presented that, is contrast to expectations, the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA) of 2000 will not be responsible for significant change in the practice of civil asset forfeiture, that the Act is a sheep in wolf's clothing. While it has ushered in some important procedural changes, CAFRA does not address several of what critics perceive to be the most significant problems associated with civil asset forfeiture, among them are a questionable standard of proof, equitable sharing, and the so‐called “taint doctrine.” Thus, it is likely that civil asset forfeiture will continue to be a valuable law enforcement tool in the war on drugs.
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Qualified immunity is a defense available to law enforcement officials in Section 1983 lawsuits alleging constitutional violations. Whether qualified immunity is granted hinges on…
Abstract
Qualified immunity is a defense available to law enforcement officials in Section 1983 lawsuits alleging constitutional violations. Whether qualified immunity is granted hinges on the objective reasonableness of the officer’s actions; that is, on what a reasonable officer would have done under the circumstances. However, when a plaintiff alleges a Fourth Amendment violation, another objective reasonableness test is used. The result can be a paradoxical finding of reasonably unreasonable conduct. The present study examines this quizzical feature of civil liability law and seeks to clarify the role that both objective reasonableness tests play. In doing so, it examines the varying definitions of objective reasonableness, reviews a number of court decisions where the Fourth Amendment and qualified immunity have collided, and makes recommendations for minimizing future confusion.
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Kendall P. Cochran has claimed that John Maynard Keynes “developed a theory that would try ‘to account for things as they are’. In so doing he became another important social…
Abstract
Kendall P. Cochran has claimed that John Maynard Keynes “developed a theory that would try ‘to account for things as they are’. In so doing he became another important social economist.
David Murphy and John L. Worrall
The growth of formal police‐probation partnerships in the USA has been accompanied by an increased awareness of the potential threats of mission distortion. The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
The growth of formal police‐probation partnerships in the USA has been accompanied by an increased awareness of the potential threats of mission distortion. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the dynamics of mission distribution
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on interviews with police and community corrections officers involved in an active partnership in Spokane, Washington. The paper emphasizes the abuse of authority, stalking horse incidents, and the scope of legitimate police and probation authority.
Findings
Ultimately, mission distortion has the potential to undermine the credibility of police‐probation partnerships.
Originality/value
The paper offers training and policy recommendations for police and community corrections administrators.
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Financial expert systems have been developed in the past few years for applications such as credit assessment, portfolio management, and insurance underwriting. The decision…
Abstract
Financial expert systems have been developed in the past few years for applications such as credit assessment, portfolio management, and insurance underwriting. The decision making process of the experts in these application domains to a large extent relies on intuitive knowledge acquired by these experts after many years of practice. Eliciting and formalizing this knowledge is a critical phase in the design and development of such expert systems. This paper describes a prototype expert system for auditing and evaluating workers' compensation insurance premiums. This system differs from the abeve expert systems in that most of the experts' knowledge is explicitly accessible as regulations in procedures and manuals. This expert system is an instance of what can be called an expert system for regulation management (ESRM). The main role of the expert in the development of an ESRM is to explain regulations. The expert system presented here exhibits two features critical to the effectiveness of an ESRM: (i) an appropriate representation of complex regulations, and (ii) the capability to incorporate frequent changes to regulations quickly.