CRIM 251 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Rotten Apples, Queen'S Counsel, Toronto Police Service

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Criminology
• Course: CRIM 251
• Professor: Josh Murphy

Document Summary

Canadian police officers are required to adhere to a code of ethics. Codes contain sections on integrity, ethical decision-making, and duties of police to uphold rights of citizens, etc. Focus on individual officers, rather than the police organization. High degree of discretion exercised by police creates potential for misconduct or corruption. Frontline police officers operate with a great degree of freedom and power. Actual degree of police wrongdoing is hard to fully know. Wrongdoing due to a variety of factors: poor recruiting/training, lack of oversight/accountability, permissive police department or culture. The role of the police culture in wrongdoing. Police recruiting standards in canada are higher than ever, but do not prevent misconduct. Police culture may contribute to, facilitate, and justify misconduct. Blue wall of silence or the code (skolnick)) Demand for loyalty and solidarity can protect police deviance and allow it to continue.