Police Deviance, Rationalizing

Rationalizations (or neutralizations) are often used by individuals to minimize deviance, misconduct, or criminal behavior while still presenting an image of conformity. Whether termed rationalizations or neutralizations, these allow individuals to release themselves temporarily from conventional morality and engage in deviant or illegal behaviors. These techniques also serve to mitigate responsibility and/or avoid any associated social stigma. Police officers are no exception and also employ rationalizations for deviance.

All professions and occupations have workers that engage in deviance and/or misconduct, and these workers use rationalizations for these actions. However, policing is different from other professions in that officers are expected to adhere to a higher standard of behavior than are nonsworn employees. Policing is unique since it is part of the social control system in society involving enforcing laws, maintaining order, deterring and/or investigating crimes, and providing other miscellaneous services. Police are given powers and responsibilities distinct from those of the public, such as the ability to arrest, search and seize property, and use force. Moreover, the nature of police work presents more [Page 665]opportunities to engage in deviance. Access to drugs, money, and property, and the ability to use discretion, allow for increased possibilities for misconduct/deviance. Training and socialization into the police culture shape the values, attitudes, and worldview of officers. This training and socialization creates a subculture with the central themes of secrecy and solidarity, which further contribute to deviance and the ability of officers to rationalize it.

Police deviance involves a violation of the public trust and can take many different forms. Misconduct committed by police can pose serious problems, resulting in lawsuits, decreased public confidence and trust in the police and/or overall criminal justice system, and overall diminished efficacy of police departments. When police deviance receives a large amount of publicity, particularly nationwide, this affects perceptions of police and causes the public to question all police actions. Many departments, in response to highly publicized cases of misconduct, have implemented rules and regulations aimed at stopping or eliminating police deviance. Despite this, police deviance and misconduct not only has had a long history but also continues to remain a problem within many departments.