Ccjs 380 Project One

Project 1: Research/Library Assignment

Ethical Behavior in Criminal Justice

CCJS 380

Margarita Vidal

University of Maryland University College

18 October 2015

Misconduct and corruption are terms that refer to a wide range of procedural, criminal, and civil violations. Misconduct is "procedural" when it refers to police who violate the police code of conduct. It is “criminal" when it refers to police who violate either state or federal laws. It is "unconstitutional" when it refers to police who violate a citizen's Civil Rights (“Police,” 2015). Police corruption refers to police personnel who use their position and authority for personal rather than public benefit (Bayley & Perito, 1972, p. 3). Accepting bribes is a form of police misconduct and corruption. In this paper I will attempt to describe how bribery of two police officers partaking on staged car accidents embodied the previously given description for misconduct and corruption. Thus, committing ethical violations that brought upon themselves and the body of police officers they were part of distrust from the public.

Staged car accidents are a form of fraud and are becoming more common in the United States. The Insurance Research Council, claimed losses for medical expenses from auto crashes have risen 70 percent over the past decade in city of the New York (“Carroll,” 2001). “While such rings (staged-crash) are caught from time to time, it's rare for police officers to be found to be allegedly involved” (Goodman, 2013). On September 20, 2013 the New York Times published an article about two officers accepting bribes in exchange for car accidents information. The officers provided accident information to so-called “runners” who were working for local clinics. A “runner” is a person who receives money for obtaining clients to participate in insurance fraud. The runners then, used personal information in the reports to solicit accident victims. If the victims agree on the terms and conditions...