Crimes committed by law enforcement officers Abstract This Master Thesis comprehensively focuses on crimes committed by law enforcement officers, aiming especially on officers of the Police of the Czech Republic, of the Prison Service of the Czech Republic and of the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic. This Thesis aims to bring the readers closer to the overall view of crimes committed the law enforcement officers, to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on this issue and to draw attention to seriousness of this specific crime activity. Structure of this Thesis is divided into three parts - the general part, the analytical part and the special part. The general part defines the individual law enforcement agencies of the Czech Republic and familiarises readers with their activities. The analytical part describes and assesses the crimes committed by the law enforcement officers, compares the criminality of law enforcement officers between the individual law enforcement agencies of the Czech Republic and with the criminality of general population of the Czech Republic and also with the criminality of law enforcement in the United States of America. It also specifies the most risky groups of offenders among the officers of the Police of the Czech Republic according to several...

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among law enforcement officers (LEOs) is slightly higher than the general population. Furthermore, the prevalence of CVD doubles among LEOs following retirement compared to the general population. The measure of arterial stiffness serves as an independent risk factor that has prognostic value for future incidence of CVD. However, there is limited research on lifestyle, occupational, and demographic factors that may be associated with increased arterial stiffness in LEOs. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to compare the level of arterial stiffness among LEOs versus the general population and to identify lifestyle, occupational, and demographic predictors of arterial stiffness in LEOs. Seventy male career LEOs between the ages of 24 to 54 years from Kentucky and southwest Ohio participated in this study. LEOs completed a variety of questionnaires related to health/occupational histories, occupational stress, and diet. LEOs’ body composition (bioelectrical impedance), central and brachial blood pressures, and physical activity (triaxial accelerometers) were assessed. The dependent variable of arterial stiffness was measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). A variety of statistical techniques including 1 sample t-tests, Pearson product moment correlations, and multiple linear regression were utilized in study analyses, with a level of significance set at p < 0.05. Compared to the general population cfPWV was significantly lower among LEO’s under 30 years of age (mean difference = -0.6 m·s-1), but significantly higher among LEOs 50-55 years of age (mean difference = 1.1 m·s-1). Utilizing stepwise multiple linear regression, age, relative body fat, and diastolic blood pressure explained the most variance in LEO’s cfPWV (adj. R2 = 0.56, p < 0.001). The primary findings of this investigation demonstrate that arterial stiffness may progress more rapidly in LEOs compared to the general population and that LEOs should focus on maintaining appropriate levels of relative body fat and blood pressure to regulate arterial stiffness and risk of CVD.

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) often bear witness to trauma in others, leaving them vulnerable to vicarious traumatization. Vicarious resilience can counterbalance the negative effects of trauma work and help individuals avoid vicarious traumatization. This study investigated the phenomenon of vicarious resilience in 10 LEOs. The research questions focused on how the LEOs experienced witnessing victims demonstrate resilience during adversity and how they themselves were impacted by that experience. A phenomenological methodology and semi-structured interviews were used to explore the participants' experiences. Constructivist self-development theory and vicarious resilience were the conceptual frameworks used to explain how LEOs experience vicarious trauma and vicarious resilience. Phenomenological analysis was used to organize the data and assist in the development of themes regarding the nature of the participants' lived experiences. Analysis of the LEOs interview transcriptions generated 19 themes; including LEOs feel encouraged from witnessing victims' determination to live in the face of death, LEOs are motivated to reevaluate their own adversities, LEOs feel inspired from witnessing and reflecting on victims' ability to survive trauma, and LEOs carry hope that future victims will be resilient. Overall, the findings indicated that LEOs experience positive experiences and personal growth from their work with resilient victims. Results of this study may be used in law enforcement training to stimulate positive social change that might improve the well-being of LEOs by providing awareness on how vicarious resilience can be used as a proactive measure in working with trauma victims.

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The culture of honor theory proposed by Nisbett and Cohen (1996) addresses the historically higher rates of violent crime in the Southern United States, as well as the disparities that can be observed in the laws, beliefs, and social expectations between the South and other regions. Previous research has reported significant differences between the beliefs of acceptable violence among Southerners compared to non-Southerners; however, no research has been conducted comparing different demographic groups of Southerners. The current study sought to evaluate whether there were observable differences between various demographic attributes such as gender, race, age, educational attainment, political affiliation, prior law enforcement or military experience, and adherence to the culture of honor. It was found that there is a statistically significant relationship between experience in the military/law enforcement and culture of honor adherence, as well as statistical significance between an individual’s political affiliation and adherence to culture of honor beliefs.

Rape is a serious highly prevalent crime committed every day around the world, and affects both men and women. Rape victims must report the incidence to the police, and often the police they report to are male law enforcement officers. Yet many people in South Africa, including male law enforcement officers, do not fully accept that males can be and are victims of rape. So far there has been significantly little research into the reporting of male rape. Thus a qualitative research study on the attitudes of male law enforcement officers towards male rape victims was conducted. Social constructionism was taken as a theoretical starting point to the formal literature. The formal literature itself deals with male rape, how it is perceived, understood and misunderstood by society at large and specifically, by male law enforcement officers. The myths and truths, as well as stigmas associated with male rape are also explored. The impact of gender issues such as gender identity, gender roles and gender stereotypes are explored in-depth as they contribute to attitudes held by male law enforcement officers. Six male law enforcement officers from a Johannesburg police station participated in this study. Every one of them had had a certain amount of experience in the SAPS dealing with rape and rape victims. The researcher identified themes dealing with male rape victims from the literature, and interviewed the participants according to these themes using a semi-structured and structured format. The interviews were coded and analysed in a manner that allowed the themes, which were informed by the literature, to surface from the interview data itself. This is consistent with the qualitative tradition of psychological research. It was found that, male law enforcement officers’ attitudes towards male rape victims influence the way they think about and perceive these victims. It is very likely that this influence has a negative impact on the psychological well being of the male rape victim. It was also found that many male rape victims do not report their victimisation to the police as they fear they will not be taken seriously, they will be laughed at or even ridiculed. The law enforcement officers confirm that the stigma and shame of male rape victims compound their experience, making it traumatic and nearly impossible for them to process. The researcher believes that a change in these attitudes can lead to a change in the way male rape victims are perceived and treated by law enforcement officers, as well as by society as a whole. Further study into the role of cultural beliefs concerning masculinity and gender roles in the South African context can contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon of male rape, and can be integrated into the current intervention models used to treat these victims. / Dissertation (MA (Clinical Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Psychology / unrestricted

Between 2001 and 2017, the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) received 295,616 allegations of police misconduct involving New York Police Department (NYPD) officers' use of force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, and offensive language (FADO). The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of administrative disciplinary actions on officers' emotional intelligence and performance in relation to citizen complaints of police misconduct. The central research question addressed how administrative practices influence law enforcement officers' behavior in relation to emotional intelligence-based performance. The theoretical construct for this study is based on the emotional intelligence theories of Bar-On, Goleman, and Mayer, DiPaolo and Salovey which suggest that individuals, including police officers, are responsible for their emotional intelligence and conduct. A qualitative analysis of citizen allegations of police misconduct of the NYPD was conducted using documents from the CCRB and Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD. Each complaint was evaluated using a thematic-based analysis. The findings suggested that the NYPD's low disciplinary rate might have influenced FADO behavior, revealing patterns and practices of racial, ethnic, and social stereotyping, and a lack of compliance with department policies. Recommendations include officer and administrator training on emotional intelligence practices and restructuring department policy processes which can lead to positive social change by helping law enforcement agencies engender trust with their communities and eliminate patterns and practices related to social bias, profiling, and racial stereotyping.

In this study the researcher’s focus was on the analysis of human rights training in SAPS, a case study in Gauteng. The whole study is covered by over seven chapters. In chapter one, the introduction to human rights is discussed and the reason that motivated the researcher to pursue the study under the topic. Most importantly the aim and objectives of the study are outlined. Chapter two main focuses is on the regulatory frameworks of human rights training and programmes. In chapter three the attention is on the international best practice for police training in human rights, as any police training is benched marked internationally. Chapter four the researcher explains the research methodology used in this study, as it is important for the reader to have an understanding. Chapter five discusses the data that is collected and the analysis thereof by using nine themes to analyze data. In chapter six the discussion is based on the finding of data analysis from chapter five. Finally the researcher in chapter seven gives the summary of the study, the recommendations and conclusion on how to improve the training of human rights in the SAPS. / Kulolu cwaningo, umcwaningi ugxile ekuhlaziyeni uqeqesho kwezamalungelo abantu kwa-SAPS, kubhekwa kabanzi okwenzeka eGauteng. Ucwaningo oluphelele lwethulwa ezahlukweni eziyisikhombisa. Kwisahluko sokuqala, kwethulwa ingxoxo ngamalungelo abantu kuphinde kunikezwe izizathu ezigqugquzele umcwaningi ukuba enze lolu cwaningo ngaphansi kwalesi sihloko. Okubaluleke kakhulu, injongo nezinhloso zocwaningo kubaluliwe. Isahluko sesibili sigxile kakhulu ezinhlakeni ezilawulayo zoqeqesho kwezamalungelo abantu kanye nezinhlelo. Esahlukweni sesithathu, kubhekwa kakhulu indlela eyimpumelelo amanye amazwe enza ngayo maqondana nokuqeqeshwa kwamaphoyisa kwezamalungelo abantu, njengoba kubhekwa ngokuqhathanisa nanoma yiluphi uqeqesho lwamaphoyisa emazweni omhlaba. Kwisahluko sesine, umcwaningi uchaza indlela yokucwaninga esetshenziswa kulolu cwaningo, njengoba kubalulekile ukuba ofundayo akuqonde akufundayo. Isahluko sesihlanu sidingida imininingwane eqoqiwe kanye nokuhlaziywa kwayo ngokusebenzisa izingqikithi eziyisishiyagalolunye zokuhlaziya imininingwane. Kwisahluko sesithupha, ingxoxo incike kulokho okutholakele uma kuhlaziywa imininingwane esahlukweni sesihlanu. Okokugcina, kwisahluko sesikhombisa, umcwaningi unikeza isifinyezo socwaningo, izincomo kanye nesiphetho maqondana nendlela okungathuthukiswa ngayo uqeqesho kwezamalungelo abantu kwa-SAPS. / Kwesi sifundo umphandi ugxininise kuhlalutyo loqeqesho ngamalungelo oluntu, qeqesho olo lwenziwa kumalungu eSAPS, ngesifundo samava eGauteng. Isifundo esi sisonke siqulethe izahluko ezingaphaya kwesixhenxe. Kwisahluko sokuqala, kuxoxwa ngokwaziswa kwamalungelo oluntu nesizathu esiqhubele ekubeni umphandi alandele isifundo phantsi kwesi sahluko. Okona kubaluleke kakhulu kukuchazwa kweenjongo neziphumo ezibonakalayo zesi sifundo. Isahluko sesibini sigxininisa kwisakhelo solawulo loqeqesho neenkqubo zamalungelo oluntu. Kwisahluko sesithathu kuqwalaselwa kweyona ndlela ingcono kulo lonke ihlabathi, kuqeqesho lwamapolisa malunga namalungelo oluntu, njengoko naluphi na uqeqesho lwamapolisa lusekelwa kwindlela ekwenziwa ngayo kwihlabathi liphela. Kwisahluko sesine umphandi ucacisa indlela yophando ayisebenzisileyo kwesi sifundo, kuba oku kubalulekile ekuqondeni komfundi. Isahluko sesihlanu sixoxa ngeenkcukacha zolwazi eziqokelelweyo ukuze zihlalutywe ngokusebenzisa imixholo emihlanu yokuhlalutya iinkcukacha zolwazi. Kwisahluko sesithandathu ingxoxo isekelwe kokufunyaniswe kuhlalutyo lweenkcukacha zolwazi olwenziwe kwisahluko sesihlanu. Ekugqibeleni, kwisahluko sesixhenxe umphandi unika isishwankathelo sesifundo, iingcebiso nezigqibo malunga nendlela ekunokuphuculwa ngayo uqeqesho malunga namalungelo oluntu kwiSAPS. / Police Practice / M. A. (Criminal Justice)