Describe the research questions, methodology, and key findings of Chappell and Piquero’s article. What were the authors trying to accomplish? Who did they study? What data did they collect? What did they find based on their analysis?
Chappell and Piquero (2004) attempt to identify whether social learning and behavioral theory can be used to explain police misconduct. The authors were trying to accomplish the cause of a rise of law enforcement misconduct that had been evident in various metropolitan cities leading to egregious human rights violations. Racially profiled abuses, such as the killing of a Western African immigrant were widely covered by the media, and this specific case was at the center of discussion for police brutality (Feuer, 2004).
The research focused on studying a random sample of Philadelphia police officers overtime to determine how officer comprehension of peer behavior can be linked to misconduct. The researchers used a survey to gain insight from officers in the police department, which exceeded 3,800 officers, with a random sampling methodology then leaving 499 for further analysis. Data collected was both quantitative, such as the number of formal citizen complaints, as well as qualitative describing officer’s actions and responses, including in hypothetical scenarios. Key findings suggest that social learning has a profound impact on explaining police misconduct as peers hold influence over each other and citizen complaints are interconnected with the use of excessive force more than other aspects.
Describe the research questions, methodology, and key findings of Kane’s article. What was the author trying to accomplish? Who did he study? What data did he collect? What did he find based on the analysis?
The study by Kane (2002) seeks to determine how social ecology plays a role in police misconduct over several decades. Misconduct can be identified as anything such as extortion, bribery, and excessive force. Kane is attempting to accomplish establishing a theoretical background for social ecology in terms of how the organization inherently influences police behavior. Similar aspects were identified by Walker (2014) when studying how law enforcement at customs and border protection could be influenced by the culture in the unit and on the job since the police are exposed to violence.
In his study Kane used a longitudinal research design to study historical data at the NYPD and reports on uniformed officer personnel, identifying official reports, citizen complaints, and investigations into law enforcement misconduct. In turn, other data was used to determine the environmental conditions based on structural and demographic characteristics. Kane found that structural disadvantage and population mobility played a significant role from a social disorganization perspective. Meanwhile, shifts in Latino population trends played a racial conflict role in the process. This suggests that within precincts, the socio-ecological foundation contributes to misconduct.
Describe the research questions, methodology, and key findings of Pogarksy and Piquero’s article. What were the authors trying to accomplish? Who did they study? What data did they collect? What did they find based on their analysis?
The research question that Pogarsky and Piquero (2004) were attempting to answer is whether deterrence can be used to explain and prevent police misconduct. Deterrence theory is a concept which states that under certainty and severity of punishment for contemplated misconduct, the perceived consequence for the individual will increase, and, in turn, discourage it (Pogarsky & Piquero, 2004). This theory is commonly seen in other organizational capacities such as college students, jails, or corporate settings. Therefore, the authors were attempting to accomplish a study of this theory within the context of law enforcement.
The study sample consisted of police officers from a medium-sized police department in Arizona, with a final response rate of 210 officers. The selected methodology was the use of surveys with hypothetical scenarios regarding police misconduct. Questions were intentionally directed to instigate thoughts of consequences for misconduct as to evaluate the responses. The results found that police officers do not differ from other individuals in other settings and the threat of both legal and extralegal sanctions can potentially deter misconduct. Furthermore, punishment can help manage impulsivity in the situation, and consider previous reprimands to avoid greater consequences.
References
Chappell, A. T., & Piquero, A. R. (2004). Applying social learning theory to police misconduct. Deviant Behavior, 25(2), 89-108. Web.
Feuer, A. (2004). $3 million deal in police killing of Diallo in ’99. The New York Times. Web.
Kane, R. J. (2002). The social ecology of police misconduct. Criminology, 40(4), 867–896. Web.
Pogarsky, G., & Piquero, A. R. (2004). Studying the reach of deterrence: Can deterrence theory help explain police misconduct? Journal of Criminal Justice, 32(4), 371-386. Web.
Walker, S. (2014). Changing the culture of the customs and border protection agency: Lessons from recent developments in municipal police accountability in the U.S. Web.