Police Corruption: An Analytical Look into Police Ethics
Police Corruption
Justin Villeneuve
Nipissing University
CRJS 4917
For years, we have considered any discussions of police misconduct as taboo. After all, these are the men and woman in which we, as citizens, give the responsibility of keeping us out of harms way. We all know it is present within law enforcement in some shape or form, but we ignore its relevance in the way our criminal justice system works. Assumptions of police misconduct and corruption have long been suppressed and silenced through false litigation and system betrayal. The silencing or ignorance of police misconduct acts a strengthening mechanism which those, who engage in this type of behaviour, use as a motivational tool. It is becoming a popular belief that cases of police misconduct are always dismissed due to Charter breaches. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms acts as an umbrella that covers our entire criminal justice system. It is what guaranties us things such as life, liberty, and freedom, and the right to a fair trial. The Charter has often been criticised by certain players within the criminal justice system. It has been labelled as a difficult legislative body that allows criminals to escape the law. It has also been seen as impeding the efficiency of police procedures. In other words, it stops police from doing their job or makes it difficult for them. It is ironic that this entrenched piece of legislation, which is criticised so much by police officers, is often used in order to escape police corruption charges. Former Toronto mayor, John Sewell, in an article on the silencing of police corruption cases, states that “silence means that police corruption in Toronto is a fact that no one in a leadership position can do much about” (Sewell, 2010). In saying this, Sewell expresses his belief that if we do not target the corrupted portion within the police force, police misconduct will solidify its presence in our criminal justice system. Within any police force there is a
Justin Villeneuve
Nipissing University
CRJS 4917
For years, we have considered any discussions of police misconduct as taboo. After all, these are the men and woman in which we, as citizens, give the responsibility of keeping us out of harms way. We all know it is present within law enforcement in some shape or form, but we ignore its relevance in the way our criminal justice system works. Assumptions of police misconduct and corruption have long been suppressed and silenced through false litigation and system betrayal. The silencing or ignorance of police misconduct acts a strengthening mechanism which those, who engage in this type of behaviour, use as a motivational tool. It is becoming a popular belief that cases of police misconduct are always dismissed due to Charter breaches. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms acts as an umbrella that covers our entire criminal justice system. It is what guaranties us things such as life, liberty, and freedom, and the right to a fair trial. The Charter has often been criticised by certain players within the criminal justice system. It has been labelled as a difficult legislative body that allows criminals to escape the law. It has also been seen as impeding the efficiency of police procedures. In other words, it stops police from doing their job or makes it difficult for them. It is ironic that this entrenched piece of legislation, which is criticised so much by police officers, is often used in order to escape police corruption charges. Former Toronto mayor, John Sewell, in an article on the silencing of police corruption cases, states that “silence means that police corruption in Toronto is a fact that no one in a leadership position can do much about” (Sewell, 2010). In saying this, Sewell expresses his belief that if we do not target the corrupted portion within the police force, police misconduct will solidify its presence in our criminal justice system. Within any police force there is a
References: Campbell, E, Mahaffy, N, Stewart, D, & Trépanier, M. (2004). Canada’s approach to battling police corruption. Miller Thomson LLP, 1-3. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, s. 15, Part I of theConstitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982(U.K.), 1982, c.11 Rouben, A. (2009, June). Trial within a reasonable time. Retrieved from http://allanrouben.com/blog/2009/07/trial-within-a-reasonable-time/ Schuller, R, & Ogloff, J. (2002). Introduction to psychology and law: canadian perspectives. Toronto: University of Toronto press Sewell, J. (2010, January 11). Swell: silence on police corruption cases. Toronto Star Skolnick, J. (2002). Corruption and the blue code of silence. Policing corruption: international perspectives, 300-308.