Techniques of Neutralization

Skyes and Matza’s theory on the techniques of neutralization was originally channeled towards juvenile delinquency but is also very effective for understanding how police officers excuse, justify, and rationalize unethical behaviors. Techniques of neutralization are used to maintain a positive self-image: denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of the victim, condemnation of condemners, and appeals to higher loyalties. Denial of responsibility provides police with a justification for abusing their authority. Police can make excuses which violate ethics, but still maintain an ethical self-image. Officers can make the legal choice to enforce a minor municipal ordinance, such as those governing parades and demonstrations. While ignoring the importance of the problem protested, police can turn dogs and fire hoses on peaceful protesters whose only crime is not having a permit. Denial of injury occurs when police steal evidence from suspects, violate rights to make arrests, and abuse their authority to maintain order. Some unethical instances have no harming impact on the suspect or the rule of law. Planting evidence on a suspected drug dealer, trying to justify illegal searches with perjury, and harassing prostitutes are some of them. The denial of the victim is a neutralization technique that provides police with valid targets for victimization by characterizing certain situations and individuals so that misconduct can be justified. Stereotypes can provide a “their word against mine” instance where the obvious choice is favored in court. Police can often invoke what Skyes and Matza call the technique of condemning the condemners. Police condemning often starts when citizens bring allegations of wrongdoing to the officer or challenge their authority, thus attributing the witness to hostility, resentment, or even insanity. Police therefore deviate the justifications in their actions, whether it involves “bending” or “side-stepping” ethics. Police