Legal and sociological aspects of the problem of corruption in the police

Abstract

Police corruption is one of the most harmful social phenomena. There are several reasons why it is so. At first, police corruption leads to the negation of what should be the role of police in a democratic society, and that is law enforcement, fighting crime, protecting the interests of citizens and so on. Corruption of the police breaking the law, creates a crime rather than suppress it and undermining the fundamental interests of the state and its people. There are many definitions of police corruption. Most of the definition of police corruption emphasizes two main features: violation of norms by abuse of official powers and personal benefit which is obtained in such a way. There are many factors that can influence and lead to police corruption. There are three main groups of factors, including: individual, organizational factors and social factors. For better understanding of police corruption is very important to understand the process in which the police moving from the 'right path' and become corrupt. Police corruption is a process that occurs and develops through several possible phase, from receiving gifts of small value to receiving large sums of money or other benefits. Police corruption is generally difficult to detect. Unlike other forms of deviant behavior, police corruption is less visible, harder to determine its existence and scope. Bearing in mind the harmful effects of corruption is vary important to find ways for its successful suppression. The fight against corruption in the police involves a complex strategy. Successful fight against corruption involves and its repressive and preventive aspects.

U radu se analizira problem korupcije policije, ukazuje na osnovne razloge zbog kojih se korupcija smatra jednim od najtežih vidova nezakonitog rada policije, daje njena definicija, razmatraju teorijski koncepti koji se primarno bave njenim objašnjenjem, analiziraju osnovni faktori koji utiču na njenu pojavu i daje tipologija policijske korupcije. Posebna pažnja je posvećena analizi procesa u kojem policija skreće s 'pravog puta' i postaje korumpirana, kao i okolnostima koji otežavaju njeno otkrivanje i suzbijanje. Na kraju se ukazuje na rešenja koja mogu da pomognu iskorenjivanju korupcije policije ili da bar svedu na minimum štetne posledice koje ona izaziva u društvu.