Define the concepts of a culture and a subculture and explain how law enforcement is viewed as a subculture.

1.Define the concepts of a culture and a subculture and explain how law enforcement is viewed as a subculture.

2.Describe the two competing views that seek to explain the source of police ethics/values. Which perspective do you believe has more merit in determining police values? Why?

a.According to the text, what personality traits would attract an officer to consider the law enforcement field?

b.Consider the occupational stages discussed on pages 52-58 and in Figure 4.2. How do officers learn police values at each of the stages?

3.On pages 58-60, the author identifies a consistent set of “values” of the police subculture.

a.In your opinion, which of these values is the most problematic? Why?

b.Which of them is least problematic? Why?

4.Consider for a moment the four stages of the moral career of an officer as discussed on pages 60-61 and highlighted in Box 4.2.

a.How could ethical “training” be implemented in each stage?

b.Do you think it would be effective? Why or why not?

5.How do the media depict police officers?

a.Is this depiction congruent with reality?

b.How could the media’s portrayal of police officers lead to unethical behavior by police officers?

Requirements: as much as needed to answer the questions