Discuss police subculture, how it can benefit officers, and why it can be a concern to the public.

What will be an ideal response?


The experiences of becoming a police officer and the nature of the job cause most officers to band together in a police subculture, characterized by cynicism, clannishness, secrecy, and insulation from others in society. This is the so-called blue curtain. Police officers tend to socialize with one another and being an officer cuts them off from relationships with civilians. This means sticking up for fellow officers and never turning in their peers, even if they engaged in corrupt or illegal practices. The secrecy and closing ranks are of concern to the public; citizens do not want the police to get away with corrupt or illegal behavior. Some experts also fear that this culture creates an "us against the world" mentality and that it can stigmatize criminals in the eyes of officers, which can promote violence and brutality. However, membership in police culture helps recruits adjust to the rigors of police work and provides the emotional support needed for survival. This culture encourages decisiveness in the face of uncertainty and the ability to make split-second judgements. The police subculture has developed in response to the insulated, dangerous lifestyle of police officers.

Criminal Justice

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a. the First Amendment b. the Second Amendment c. the Ninth Amendment d. the Tenth Amendment

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Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).

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A child who has no parent or guardian or whose parents cannot give proper care would be a:

a. dependent child. b. delinquent child. c. neglected child. d. status child. e. ward of the court.

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The short-term history of corrections seems dominated by fads

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

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