Police Corruption Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Police Corruption - Essay Example Majority of scholars in the law enforcement field, according to Corley, assert that the acceptance of gratuities is a pitfall that leads to corruption. Corley bases his classification of corruption on four experts' definitions which affirm that corruption entails the act of accepting goods or anything with monetary value 'for performing or failing to perform duties which are a normal part of one's job'.1 On the other hand, Corley defines gratuity as 'something given without claim or demand' (Corley 2005). However, the author contends that it is confounding for the enforcement agents to discern when a gratuity does not come without a claim or demand. Thus, even though law enforcers exercise discretions on accepting presents and gratuities, enforcers should assume that everything comes with a price, based on the supposition that 'there is no free lunch.' The author adds that though these 'acts of kindness' may not require reciprocity in the present, they may oblige an officer to reciprocate such kindness in the future. In some ways, Corley also admits that there exists people who strive for genuine kindness but individuals involve in the enforcement of law should always presume that everyone wants something in exchange of a gift or gratuity.