Explaining police Corruption among Mexican Officers through a Social Learning
Title: Explaining police Corruption among Mexican Officers through a Social Learning
Keep in mind that the final research proposal “should have a minimum length of 12 pages and a maximum length of 15 pages, not including title page. The final research proposal should include and be organized in the following way:
title page, abstract (1 page)
introduction (1-2 pages)
literature review (3-4 pages)
methods (2-3 pages)
Sampling, methods and questionnaire
expected results (1 page)
references (1 page).
The paper should be written in Times New Roman, 12 font, 1-inch margins, and following APA style.
Students are required to cite at least 15 sources other than the course book. At least ten of those sources should be from peer-reviewed articles.
Requirements: n/a
Explaining police Corruption among Mexican Officers through a Social Learning
Brittany Baldwin
CJ 6650
September 16, 2023
Explaining police Corruption among Mexican Officers through a Social Learning
Introduction
Cases of police involvement in corrupt practices in Mexico are gaining nationwide attention as it undermines the foundations of justice and erode public trust in law enforcement. As a country struggling with sophisticated socioeconomic difficulties and a long-standing history of corruption, it is important to explore the aspects contributing to law enforcement corrupt practices with a focus on Mexico. This paper discusses the dependent variables that will build the research topic.
How likely is a police officer to engage in corruption? Where are your questions? You need to write questions that you would ask police officers to see if they are corrupt. You would ask, how many of your friend cops have accepted briberies? How often do your cops’ friends have let criminals go in exchange for a “deal”? In corruption?
Scholarly evidence
The five different questions to ask law enforcers to determine whether they are involved in corrupt practices include:
Is there a time when you accepted money or any gift in exchange for refraining from legal action against a person or aiding them to evade legal repercussions?
Is there a time when you favored or allowed an individual to walk away without following the legal protocols in exchange for gifts, personal benefit, or compensation?
Have you ever encountered your colleagues engaging in corrupt activities, including misconduct or accepting bribes? If so, did you report them to the relevant authorities?
Is there a time when you received perks, services, or compensation from corporations or individuals who tried to influence your actions as a law enforcement officer?
What incidents or procedures within your law enforcement department are considered corrupt? If so, what is your point of view about such practices?
Theories explaining changes in the possibility of law enforcers engaging in corruption
The theories that could explain this phenomenon include social learning theory, which describes how individuals learn behavior through experiences and social interactions. The other theory is institutional learning theory, which plays a crucial role in determining the institutional environment where police officer operates. The prosperity of corruption can be influenced by leadership, structure, and oversight of law enforcement agencies. These theories help to explain organizational culture and policies that can interfere with the likelihood of corruption.
Variables explaining changes in the possibility of law enforcers participating in corruption
The first variable explaining this change includes peer influence, which is related to the influence of colleagues, such as the frequency of interactions with corrupt officers, the number of colleagues involved in corrupt activities, and the extent of peer pressure to be involved in evil activities. The other variable is organizational culture, which involves measures taken within the police force. This helps to shed light on the institutional factors affecting corruption likelihood. Besides that, economic indicators such as access to financial incentives, officer salaries, and perceived economic stress can be used to discover socioeconomic factors’ effects on corruption propensity.
Known knowledge about this dependent variable
Based on the existing research on police corruption, various key determinants have been identified, such as financial incentives, organizational culture, and peer influence. The probability of a police officer getting involved in corrupt activities can vary significantly depending on these factors. Additionally, the global prevalence of police corruption has been highlighted by international studies emphasizing the need for effective anti-corruption measures within law enforcement agencies.
What is not known?
Even with substantial literature on the overall factors affecting corruption in police, there are possibilities of limited specific research on the Mexican context as well as the exceptional dynamics within Mexican law enforcement. There is no clear evidence of how Mexican police officer experiences, economic conditions, or peer networks relate to their likelihood of associating with corrupt activities. The procedures or knowledge gaps surrounding certain incidents allegedly believed to be corrupt among Mexican law enforcers must be addressed.
How will this study contribute to the existing knowledge?
This study will substantially impact the understanding of corruption among Mexican police officers by collecting data and insight directly from them. I will be able to provide a detailed analysis of the factors influencing the likelihood of police officers being involved in corrupt activities by asking questions related to peer influence, economic conditions, organizational culture, and specific incidents. The study will help to address corruption issues more effectively, which will help in having practical implications for anti-corrupt measures and law enforcement reform efforts.
Can you name corrupt Mexican police procedures or incidents?
Scholarly Evidence
Different literature has offered evidence that Mexican police officers engage in corrupt activities. A study by Guerrero & Urbano (2020) identifies that Latin American countries are known for aggravated societal challenges such as corruption, violence, and crime, which influence the entrepreneurial activities adopted by corporations. The authors thus analyze the influence of formal organizations, including government actions and programs, on corrupt activities by reviewing data from the National Victimization Survey of the Mexican National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). The study finds that implementing formal conditions by government programs, such as in the law enforcement department, is related to increased social innovations, which encourage officers to engage in corrupt activities. At the same time, a study by Flores-Macías and Zarkin (2022) expands on the current knowledge of the impact of law enforcement involvement in corrupt activities by manipulating domestic policing. The authors identify that regardless of different scholars warning against the activation of these approaches, the wider population still supports it. The authors explore Mexico, in particular, utilizing a nationwide image-based investigation that discloses that law enforcement weapons and uniforms are used in elevating the perception of effectiveness and respect for citizen freedom, which law enforcers provide.
Current theories
The theories used to name corrupt Mexican police procedures or incidents include economic theory, which comprises economic factors such as low salaries, income inequalities, and poverty that may impact police corruption. The other is an institutional theory, which describes the different levels of corruption and how they may be changed based on the norms, rules, and structure within police institutions.
Variables explaining changes in the dependent variables
Current literature identifies that the level of corruption in Mexican police can be influenced by various factors such as cultural and social norms, institutional factors, economic indicators, and political factors. Some studies find a positive correlation, while others find a negative correlation between corruption in police and poverty rates.
Known and unknown knowledge
The current literature shows that various factors can influence the level of corruption, but no specific mechanism and causal relationship is being understood. There is an urgency to do more research to explore these relationships within the Mexican context.
How do Mexican police excuse corruption, if at all?
Scholarly evidence
A study by Singh (2022) starts by recognizing that police corruption is high in Mexico, and it is usually rationalized by the integration of sophisticated interaction of different factors, which push them to excuse their actions of engaging in corrupt activities. The authors identify the first factor as low salaries, which lead some law enforcers to engage in corruption to meet their financial problems, particularly in economic depression. Another aspect is an extensive criminal network, such as drug cartels, which tempts law enforcers to blend in with these groups to benefit financially. Also, police culture in Mexico tends to normalize corruption by treating it as a normal routine practice. Such weak accountability efforts further normalize corrupt dealings as law officials believe they are above the law and can engage in any form of impunity. Moreover, Singh (2020) finds that Mexican society openly accepts corruption due to the absence of alternative income sources and motivation to reap more profits from organizations, thus excusing corrupt dealings involving law enforcers.
Another study by Modesto & Pilati (2020) uses the Analytical Model of Corruption (AMC) to identify the importance of utilizing a multilevel model to explore corruption. Although this study does not illustrate how law enforcers excuse their corrupt activities, they provide insights into corruption and its dynamics, especially in law enforcement. The findings indicate that corruption is triggered by different aspects playing at different levels, such as contextual, group, and individual dimensions. Authority figures make decisions that can be seen as corrupt measures, often driven by rational evaluations and dispositional aspects. Excuses can be used to justify the corrupt behavior, especially when these individuals realize that their decision contradicts societal norms.
Theories demonstrating changes within the independent variable
Current theories explaining changes in these variables include cultural theory. According to this theory, cultural factors such as traditions, values, and societal norms can influence an individual’s behavior. The other theory is economic theory, which comprises economic factors such as inadequate resources and low income, which can create financial incentives for Mexican police officers to be involved in corrupt activities. The theory further explains why police officers may excuse corruption as a means of financial upkeep.
The variables utilized in describing changes in this dependent variable
One variable is cultural factors and their ability to influence cultural variables such as peer pressure, family background, and community values on attitudes of police officers towards corruption. Officers from different backgrounds or communities have a high probability of excusing corruption. The second variable is an institutional factor, which comprises variables such as benefits, police salaries, and access to traditional income sources, both legal and illegal, which can be examined to determine how financial incentives impact the willingness of police officers to prosecute corruption.
Known knowledge about this dependent variable
Current research evidence recognizes corruption among Mexican law enforcement as a prevalent issue, with some studies identifying that low salaries, a culture of impunity, and uneven access to resources facilitate corruption maneuvers within the department.
Unknown knowledge about this variable
Although a handful of literature sources identify aspects contributing to increased police corruption in Mexico, much has yet to be discovered. In particular, there is no substantial description of the different excuses that Mexican law enforcers use to normalize their engagement in corrupt practices. Also, more information must be explained on the interplay between economic, institutional, and cultural factors and their role in shaping excuses for engagement in corrupt activities.
Contribution of this study
This study will provide insights into specific excuses provided by Mexican law enforcers when participating in corrupt practices by assessing the interaction between economic, cultural, and institutional factors. This knowledge will assist in tailoring policies and interventions to combat corrupt practices among Mexican police.
What are the effects of police corruption in Mexico on law enforcement and society?
Different researchers explore the prevalence of this phenomenon. The first study is by Magaloni & Rodriguez (2020), who look into the impact of police corruption in Mexico, which is increasing cases of police brutality, especially torture. The authors argue that increased corruption arises from unrestrained powers among law enforcers in democratic settings who coerce citizens as a way of subjugating them. The authors focus on law enforcers to discuss police brutality as an impact of corruption, using Mexico as the case study where armed forces deployment and the ongoing drug war are complex issues. The findings reveal the interrelationship between law enforcement, democracy, and problems of resolving police brutality and corruption, offering an inside look into possible obstacles and solutions.
Theories describing changes to the dependent variable
The theory that best describes this variable is social learning theory, which proposes that individuals acquire attitudes and behaviors through interacting with others and in their environment. This explains how corrupt measures can spread among police officers through normative behavior, peer influence, and shared perceptions among law enforcement departments. Another theory is the resource dependency theory, which proposes that corporations, including law enforcement departments, are affected by their dependence and resource access. From the perspective of police corruption, the prevalence of this aspect illustrates how the availability of resources, such as the availability of profit-making desires among organizations, can affect officials’ actions and decisions.
Variables that describe changes to the dependent variable
Variables such as the prevalence of economic factors, political and legal framework, public perception, and organizational culture could reveal complexities surrounding corruption among Mexican police officers. Economic factors, including low police wages, explain how corruption provides them with financial incentives, while organizational culture, such as the ‘code of silence,’ reveals the toxic environment linked to high levels of corruption.
Known and unknown knowledge about this variable
The current body of research proposes that corruption among Mexican police officers is an extensive issue with detrimental societal impacts. It is often associated with increased drug trafficking and organized crime, which erodes public trust and hinders the effectiveness of policing measures and major societal issues such as violence and insecurity. Even with this knowledge, little is known about the precise mechanisms through which corruption among law enforcers impacts society and the law enforcement agency. Also, there is limited empirical evidence on the specific variables, and their interrelationship can alter law enforcement corruption with time.
Contributions of this study to the existing knowledge
The study aims to seal some of the existing gaps by evaluating the impacts of corruption among law enforcers in the Mexican republic by relying on suitable variables and theories that will provide detailed insight into the issue. This contribution will be a crucial tool to policymakers, scholars, and law enforcement agencies attempting to implement targeted reforms and interventions in the law enforcement agency to combat corruption among police and mitigate its impact on society.
Does Mexicans’ trust in the police affect their perceptions of police corruption?
Various scholars have stepped in to offer insight on this issue. According to research by Baek et al. (2022), Mexico still needs to address public dissatisfaction with police officers. From this perspective, the authors examine citizens’ trust in law enforcers to determine measures to enhance public-police associations. The authors examine expressive and instrumental aspects influencing public trust in the police by using data from the Latin American Public Opinion Project. Results identify that neighborhood was a substantial aspect linked to the ability of the public to trust law enforcers. Also, the increase in corruption among police officers harmed the relationship between public satisfaction and law enforcement officers’ performance, pinpointing the need to increase confidence between residents and police. Barnes et al. (2018) have also offered insight into this issue by exploring the association between law enforcers’ involvement in corruption and public perception of the issue in Latin America and the United States.
The authors pinpoint the adverse impact of corruption as it leads to the erosion of public trust and state that corruption is a primary predictor of trust development in the police at a country level. The authors identify that stereotypes tend to trust women officers more as they perceive them to be honest and ethical, while others have mixed reactions. Barnes et al. (2018) thus seek to understand why women are perceived as more trustworthy than men by assessing outsider status, honesty, and risk diversion.
Theories describing changes in this variable
The best theory explaining this phenomenon is social capital theory, in which trust in corporations such as the law enforcement department can strengthen cooperation and social cohesion. High levels of trust can lead to improved public perception of police behavior, decreasing mistrust between them.
Variables describing changes to the dependent variable
The first variable is trust in police, where surveys can explain changes in opinions about police corruption. Also, exposure to corruption activities, such as citizens encountering or witnessing corrupt practices by law enforcement officers published in the media, can influence public opinion. In addition, demographic aspects, including education, socioeconomic status, and gender, can be integrated into describing changes in trust and public opinion on corruption. The research can identify that specific demographics tend to trust law enforcement officers’ involvement in corruption.
Known and unknown knowledge about the variable
Current research identifies trust in law enforcement officers and opinions about police involvement in corruption are related. As Barnes et al. (2018) stated, high levels of trust are related to improved opinion of police behavior. On the other hand, knowledge validating this relation is limited as there are not enough studies focusing on Mexico and its extraordinary culture. Also, there needs to be precise mechanisms demonstrating how trust affects opinion of police involvement in corruption.
Contribution
This study will contribute to the existing knowledge by thoroughly evaluating public trust in the police and their opinion on police corruption within the Mexican Republic. The study will integrate practical implications for policymakers and police agencies in Mexico to help them better understand the importance of trust in resolving problems of police corruption and strengthen public opinion about police integrity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the paper has provided valuable insights into the complex dynamics of corruption among Mexican police officers utilizing different institutional and social learning theories for each variable. Clearly, organizational culture, societal norms, and structural shortcomings in the law enforcement department support corruption among law enforcers. To resolve corruption in Mexico, holistic reforms should be introduced to address the behavior of individual police officers and cultural and systemic factors that support corrupt activities.
References
Barnes, T. D., Beaulieu, E., & Saxton, G. W. (2018). Restoring trust in the police: Why female officers reduce suspicions of corruption. Governance, 31(1), 143-161.
Flores-Macías, G., & Zarkin, J. (2022). Militarization and perceptions of law enforcement in the developing world: Evidence from a conjoint experiment in Mexico. British Journal of Political Science, 52(3), 1377-1397.
Guerrero, M., & Urbano, D. (2020). Institutional conditions and social innovations in emerging economies: insights from Mexican enterprises’ initiatives for protecting/preventing the effect of violent events. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 45, 929-957.
Magaloni, B., & Rodriguez, L. (2020). Institutionalized police brutality: Torture, the militarization of security, and the reform of inquisitorial criminal justice in Mexico. American Political Science Review, 114(4), 1013-1034.
Modesto, J. G., & Pilati, R. (2020). “Why are the corrupt, corrupt?”: The multilevel analytical model of corruption. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 23, e5.
Baek, H., Han, S., & Gordon, Q. (2022). Factors that influence trust in the police in Mexico. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 46(4), 407-422.
Singh, D. (2022). The Causes of Police Corruption and Working towards Prevention in Conflict-Stricken States. Laws, 11(5), 69.
Explaining Police Corruption among Mexican Police Officers through a Social Learning
Brittany Baldwin
Troy University
Professor Garduno
CJ 6650
September 9, 2023
Explaining Police Corruption among Mexican Police Officers through a Social Learning
Independent variables
Economic situation: How is the corruption of police officers directly impacted by their economic state?
• Job dissatisfaction: Does a police officer’s likelihood of engaging in corruption increase with job dissatisfaction?
• Lack of commitment: Commitment to the police profession significantly impacts an officer’s likelihood of corruption.
• Definitions and reinforcement favorable to corruption: Corruption in the police culture significantly affects an officer’s likelihood of partaking in illicit activities. Explain?
• Exposure to corruption: Workplace corruption, how does it influence a police officer’s probability of illegal acts?
• Training: Corruption likelihood varies among police officers due to their training. How does this occur?
• Supervision: Corruption likelihood increases when an officer experiences minimal supervision.
• Organizational culture: Police corruption can be influenced by the cultural atmosphere within a police department; how?
• Social and cultural factors: Police corruption can be attributed to the influence of social and cultural factors, specifically poverty, inequality, and impunity. Explain how?
• Early career exposure to police force corruption, how do Mexican police officers feel about it?
• Mexican police officials have personally seen or undergone instances of police corruption? Those experiences shaped their beliefs and behaviors.
• Peer influence, in the context of corruption among Mexican police officers, plays a significant role. How does this occur?
• Investigating the connection between police officers’ backgrounds and perceptions of police corruption in Mexico. Explain how?
Dependent variable
How likely is a police officer to engage in corruption?
Can you name corrupt Mexican police procedures or incidents?
How do Mexican police excuse corruption, if at all?
What are the effects of police corruption in Mexico on law enforcement and society?
Does Mexicans’ trust in the police affect their perceptions of police corruption?
Explaining Police Corruption among Mexican Police Officers through a Social Learning Perspective
Brittany Baldwin
Institutional affiliation
CJ 6650
Dr. Garduno
August 26, 2023
Explaining Police Corruption among Mexican Police Officers through a Social Learning Perspective
Research Questions
What are the key principles of social learning theory, and how do they relate to the behavior of Mexican police officers engaging in corruption?
How does the family environment and upbringing of Mexican police officers contribute to their susceptibility to corruption behaviors, as predicted by social learning theory?
Research hypotheses
Mexican police officers who come from families with a history of corruption are more likely to engage in corrupt practices themselves due to the influence of family role models and learned behaviors.
Mexican police officers who observe and interact with colleagues who consistently demonstrate ethical behavior act as positive role models, reducing the likelihood of engaging in corrupt practices due to vicarious reinforcement of integrity.
Police officers who receive comprehensive and ongoing ethical training are less likely to engage in corrupt behaviors, as their training reinforces the importance of adhering to ethical standards and principles.
Police officers who perceive corruption as widespread within their department or the broader law enforcement community may be more inclined to engage in corrupt practices due to perceived norms and reduced likelihood of detection.
Sample and Data Collection Technique
I carefully crafted the design of how units of analysis were selected and data gathered in this study to dive into the ubiquity of police corruption among Mexican officers.
Case Selection
To achieve a holistic understanding of the problem of police corruption in Mexico, this study utilized purposive sampling for selecting the units of analysis – which were Mexican police officers. The selection process involved careful consideration of diversity and representation to capture various dimensions of the problem:
1. Diverse Geographic Representation: Mexico is a very diverse country with large regional differences. As a result, I purposefully chose police officers from different regions of the country in order to control for possible differences in corruption rates and experiences.
2. Varied Ranks and Roles: In order to acknowledge the possible variations in corruption within law enforcement’s hierarchy, I invited police officers from various ranks and positions. This included everyone from street cops to ranking bosses and supervisors.
3. Informed Consent: The ethical concerns were of utmost importance in this study. I made participation in the study completely voluntary, and I got informed consent from every police officer. I provided a detailed explanation of the study’s aims, the confidentiality of their responses and their right to withdraw at any stage.
Data Collection
The main data collection technique involved carrying out semi-structured interviews with the chosen police officers. These interviews had been painstakingly composed to elicit the minutest of details about their experiences, perceptions and complicity in corruption.
1. Semi-Structured Interviews: The interviews were led by a well-crafted suite of open-ended questions. These questions were designed to elicit honest responses and uncover insights into the corruption, the driving factors, and their perspective.
2. In-Person and Remote Interviews: Flexibility was crucial during the data collection phase. Where feasible, all required safety and ethical protocols were followed for face-to-face interviews. However, due to logistical limitations, notably exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, remote interviews were also held via video conferencing platforms.
3. Recording and Note-Taking: I recorded the interviews (audio only, with participant consent) for verbatim responses. Also, I made sure to document the interviews—non-verbal cues, observations and context—with copious notes.
4. Data Analysis: Post-interview, the interviews were transcribed, and a detailed thematic analysis was done. Themes pertaining to corruption, its causes, justifications, societal consequences and related factors were carefully identified and listed for a detailed examination.
5. Triangulation: To strengthen the internal and external validity of the study, I triangulated interview data with extant literature and scholarly inquiry into police corruption in Mexico.
Through the employment of this expansive and detail-oriented sampling and data collection approach, I sought to generate an in-depth, textured illumination of police corruption among Mexican officers. The findings from these interviews are expected to make an essential contribution towards the ongoing anti-corruption work in the police, and it is hoped that the lessons learnt can be used to inform meaningful reforms. In the end, what they are after is to regain confidence in law enforcement and create a more transparent policing environment.
Collepals.com Plagiarism Free Papers
Are you looking for custom essay writing service or even dissertation writing services? Just request for our write my paper service, and we'll match you with the best essay writer in your subject! With an exceptional team of professional academic experts in a wide range of subjects, we can guarantee you an unrivaled quality of custom-written papers.
Get ZERO PLAGIARISM, HUMAN WRITTEN ESSAYS
Why Hire Collepals.com writers to do your paper?
Quality- We are experienced and have access to ample research materials.
We write plagiarism Free Content
Confidential- We never share or sell your personal information to third parties.
Support-Chat with us today! We are always waiting to answer all your questions.
