Police Rationalization Essay

Rationalization is when a person knows when something is wrong but provide reasons to

make the nature and the action itself, seem better than it really is. The individual gives multiple

excuses that he or she do not believe. Based on their theory, Sykes and Matza stated that in order

for corrupt officers to relieve themselves of the guilt and prevent self loathing, they will

rationalize their unjust actions. In this rationalization process, corrupt officers use five different

types of rationalization techniques to justify their conduct. The first is the denial of

responsibility. (Williams Pg. 88)

According to Sykes and Matza, the denial of responsibility technique involves the officer

making excuses as to why something happened,

Claiming that they do not truly know what it is like to be police. By the judging and

condemning the excessive, hostile force used by police, creating rules to control police work, it is

making it easier for criminals to be criminals and put more pressure on police officers. In this

case they are justifying and rationalizing using hostile, unconstitutional behavior. actions by

basically stating it is needed in order to do effective police work,. Those who do not agree do not

truly understand the reality of police work and have no right to judge. (Williams Pg. 88)

The last technique of police rationalization, appeal to higher loyalties, is when officers to

not testify or “rat out” their own. This loyalty is called the blue wall. It is difficult to get police

authorities to testify against their own, even when you have officers who do not break the laws,

or do anything unjust. Officers who condemn the same activity they refuse to testify against. The

loyalty to secrecy to other officers outweighs all the constitutional laws officers must serve,

based on Matza and Sykes’ theory of delinquent behavior. (Williams Pg. 88) “In light of

Another way of

combating police corruption would be to requiring law enforcement to take courses in criminal

justice ethics, but this method will not be very effective. Corruption stems from personality traits

and initial upbringings of officers; how they were influenced before they became apart of the

police force. By the time an individual earns his or her police status, they have a foundation of

basic ethical training from his or her past education, experiences, and lessons taught by loved

ones. Therefore the individual already know what is right or wrong. Further education would not

help. Even if you have someone who agree with what is right and what is wrong, if there is a

clear code to ensure them not to do the unjust, unconstitutional thing, the person will avoid

corruption or doing the unconstitutional thing to avoid the possible consequences.

(Williams Pg. 97 and 99) Police corruption originates from the personality traits and the values

the individual carries. By paying more attention to these aspects and using the given combat

techniques to contour them, police corruption will be on it’s way to being