#issuesinlawenforcement

[lawenforcement-101]

Issues in Law Enforcement: Corruption

One of the biggest issues facing the Criminal Justice System is that of corruption. Corruption in Law Enforcement can be defined as the misuse of the authority given to officers for their own personal gain or pleasure. Corrupt activities normally take the form of bribery, extortion, selling drugs, or receiving stolen goods. Citizens are dependent on the police to uphold the law, and preserve the peace by protecting the community. However, with the continuous cases of corruption, there is an air of doubt and distrust amongst citizens for the police. 

Corruption has been an ongoing plague within the Jamaica Constabulary Force from the very beginning. In a survey conducted by a veteran pollster, Bill Johnson, in early 2019, it was highlighted that it is the belief of the Jamaican citizens that more than half (55%) of the members of the police force are corrupt. Many cases of corruption in the force has been brought forward, however, the most recent case that took the media by storm was that of the senior policeman, amongst other policemen, who was arrested on charges of breaching the Corruption Prevention Act. The first incident was that of the two constables assigned to the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch who were arrested after allegedly soliciting $6,000 from a motorist who committed a road traffic violation. In the second incident, a report was made against an inspector of police who allegedly disseminated private information concerning the complainant. The inspector then solicited $300,000 from the complainant to have the situation rectified. A report was made, and a sting operation was set up during which $60,000 was allegedly handed over to the policeman, who was subsequently arrested. 

These cases are few of many that highlights how corrupt and unjust many of the people who pledge to serve and protect us really are. Hubert Williams, in his research paper entitled “Core Factors of Police Corruption Across the World”, stated that police corruption is as a result of deficiencies in four major areas, namely, “recruitment, training and promotion; resources, such as salary and equipment; systems of accountability within departments, courts and the law; and cultural traditions that inhibit the development of professional police standards.” 

https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/publications/core_factors.pdf

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/corruption-haunts-police-force-jamaicans-believe-more-than-half-of-jcf-tainted_157127?profile=1606

https://www.loopjamaica.com/content/senior-policeman-among-three-cops-arrested-alleged-corruption