This essay aims to identify the principal features and characteristics associated with ‘cop culture’ and give an answer to the question, what the main recent critiques of the previous scholarly accounts of this concept have been.
The terms police culture(s), cop and canteen culture have entered the discourse of police studies. As Skolnick has unfolded, police behaviour is influenced by the underlying values and politics of the community that finances the police department. Recent studies on police culture phenomenon have recognized its potential for change and diversity; studies also discovered individual and organizational variations, and new challenges.
Considering these variations, it would be more accurate to use a plural form when referring to the police culture, for a unified singular culture as such does not exist. However, some common persistent features, expressed throughout several decades, can be identified within police institutions. Skolnick emphasizes that representatives of various professions tend to share occupational features: they develop distinctive ways of perceiving and responding to their environment. As police officers are involved in offenders’ apprehension, it might contribute to the professional suspiciousness, biases and prejudices.
Indeed, even the training of police officers indicates the necessity for suspiciousness, because some events or physical surroundings may signal the likelihood of danger in advance.
Table of Contents
- The Principal Features and Characteristics Associated with 'Cop Culture' and the Main Recent Critiques of the Previous Scholarly Accounts of this Concept
- The Notion of 'Police Culture'
- Recent Studies on Police Culture Phenomenon
- Social and Criminal Injustice
- Occupational Solidarity
- Social Context of Cop Culture
- Critical Evaluation of Skolnick's Accounts on Police Working Personality
- Sense of Mission
- The ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ Perspective
- Police Racial Prejudice
- Pragmatic, Anti-theoretical, Down-to-Earth Perspective
- Police Powers and Accountability
- The Core Mandate of Policing
Objectives and Key Themes
This text aims to explore the concept of 'cop culture' by analyzing its principal features and characteristics, examining recent critiques of existing scholarly accounts, and highlighting the implications of police culture for social justice, accountability, and the delivery of justice.
- The evolution and significance of the concept of 'police culture'
- The impact of police culture on social and criminal injustice
- The influence of police culture on police practices and the delivery of justice
- The role of police culture in shaping public perceptions and trust in law enforcement
- The need for reform and greater accountability within police institutions
Chapter Summaries
- The Principal Features and Characteristics Associated with 'Cop Culture' and the Main Recent Critiques of the Previous Scholarly Accounts of this Concept: This chapter introduces the concept of 'police culture', its historical context, and key features such as shared norms, beliefs, and values. It also examines the recent critiques of existing scholarly accounts of police culture.
- The Notion of 'Police Culture': This section delves into the concept of 'police culture' and its impact on police outlook and behavior. It explores the argument that police culture can be both a positive force and a barrier to reform, contributing to violations of citizen's rights and misuses of authority.
- Recent Studies on Police Culture Phenomenon: This section examines recent studies on police culture, highlighting its potential for change and diversity. It discusses the recognition of individual and organizational variations and the need to acknowledge the plurality of police cultures.
- Social and Criminal Injustice: This section analyzes the correlation between social and criminal injustice, highlighting the disproportionate impact of policing on economically and socially marginalized groups. It also examines the controversial use of stop and search powers under anti-terrorism legislation.
- Occupational Solidarity: This section explores the concept of occupational solidarity within police culture, examining factors contributing to it, such as danger, authoritative pressure, public indifference, and the need for teamwork.
- Social Context of Cop Culture: This section examines the social context in which police culture exists, highlighting its potential to perpetuate social ills such as racism, nationalism, and discrimination. It discusses the influence of events such as 9/11 and the impact of counter-terrorism practices on public perceptions.
- Critical Evaluation of Skolnick's Accounts on Police Working Personality: This section critically evaluates Skolnick's accounts of police working personality, arguing that they fail to adequately address the political dimensions of police culture and its perpetuation of power differences.
- Sense of Mission: This section examines the concept of a "sense of mission" within police culture, exploring the perception of policing as a moral imperative rather than a job. It also discusses the tension between the reality of everyday policing and the idealized image of police as "the thin blue line."
- The ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ Perspective: This section explores the "us and them" perspective prevalent in police culture, arguing that police tend to categorize citizens based on potential danger. It also discusses the dangers of police self-perception as "good judges of moral character."
- Police Racial Prejudice: This section addresses the persistent issue of police racial prejudice, highlighting the ongoing challenges of addressing biased and discriminative attitudes toward ethnic minorities despite efforts to promote multiculturalism in training and the official force ethos.
- Pragmatic, Anti-theoretical, Down-to-Earth Perspective: This section examines the pragmatic, anti-theoretical approach often found in police culture. It discusses efforts to encourage more reflective and analytical skills in police, but also notes the potential for political pressures to undermine these reforms.
- Police Powers and Accountability: This section examines the expansion of police powers in recent years and the role of institutions such as the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in holding police accountable. It also explores the issue of police surveillance and its intersection with human rights.
- The Core Mandate of Policing: This section argues that the core mandate of policing is order maintenance, not just crime fighting. It examines the role of police culture in shaping the use of police discretion and its potential for criminalization and stigmatization of individuals or groups.
Keywords
This text focuses on the concept of 'cop culture', its impact on social and criminal injustice, police accountability, and the delivery of justice. Key terms include police culture, occupational solidarity, social and criminal injustice, racial prejudice, police powers, accountability, and the core mandate of policing.
- Quote paper
- Lina Kudriavcevaite (Author), 2010, "Cop Culture". The Main Aspects and Critiques, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/388103
