Week 6 – Written Assignment Case Study on Police Misconduct…

Police misconduct is rarely a simple issue with a simple solution. Real-world cases often involve overlapping forms of deviance, unclear boundaries between policy and ethics, and complex organizational pressures. In this assignment, you will examine a fictional police department with several officers involved in different forms of misconduct. Your task is to analyze each incident, classify the type of wrongdoing, determine potential causes, and recommend appropriate sanctions and reforms.

Case Study:

The Riverton Police Department (RPD)

RPD is a mid-sized agency facing recent scrutiny after several internal and external complaints surfaced in a short period of time. The following incidents occurred over a four-month span:

Incident 1: Officer Smith (10-year veteran)

During a routine audit, supervisors discover that Smith has been leaving his patrol district for extended periods without notifying dispatch. GPS logs show he repeatedly visited a local bar during his shift. He denies drinking alcohol but admits he occasionally stops in to talk to friends.

Incident 2: Officer Jones (3-year officer)

A citizen reports that Jones accepted $200 in exchange for letting a traffic ticket slide. Jones claims the driver insisted he take the money and that he didnt want to be rude, but IA investigators find the cash in his vest pocket.

Incident 3: Officer Daniels (5-year officer)

Body-worn camera footage shows Daniels pushing a handcuffed suspect against a wall after the suspect made a sarcastic comment. The suspect did not resist and suffered minor injuries.

Incident 4: Sergeant Walker (18-year veteran)

Walker is arrested off-duty after a domestic violence incident in which he struck his spouse during an argument. Alcohol was involved. The spouse later requests charges be dropped, but the DA proceeds.

Incident 5: Officer Johnson (new recruit)

Johnson is arrested off-duty in a prostitution sting. He states he made a mistake and that it has nothing to do with his job.

Assignment Prompt:

Part 1: Categorize Each Incident

For each officer, explain whether their misconduct does or does not qualify as each category listed below. Some incidents may fit more than one category. Be sure to explain why.

• Policy Violation – Breaking an internal rule, procedure, or departmental expectation.
• Ethical Breach – Behavior that violates professional ethics, public trust, or accepted moral standardseven if not illegal.
• Criminal Conduct – Actions that violate state or federal law.
• Corruption – Abuse of authority for personal gain (accepting money, favors, or benefits).

Part 2: Evaluate Root Causes at Three Levels

For each officer, identify possible causes at each level:

• Individual Level
• Organizational Level
• Societal Level

Part 3: Recommend Sanctions for each Officer

For each officer, recommend appropriate discipline and provide a justification grounded in:

• Severity – How serious is the harm or risk?
• Intent – Was the act accidental, reckless, or intentional?
• Harm – Physical, emotional, organizational, or community damage.
• Past Precedent – What similar cases in policing typically receive.
• Rehabilitation Potential – Can training, counseling, or monitoring reasonably correct the behavior?

Sanctions may include:

• Verbal or written reprimand
• Suspension
• Demotion
• Mandatory training
• Counseling, EAP referral, or substance abuse treatment
• Last-chance agreement
• Termination
• Referral for criminal prosecution

Your recommendations should be realistic, defensible, and consistent.

Part 4: Propose Reforms to Prevent Future Misconduct

Based on the patterns you identified in the case study, propose one agency-wide reform designed to reduce or prevent similar misconduct in the future. Select one area of reform from the list below:

• Training
• Policy Changes
• Supervision and Organizational Culture
• Officer Wellness and Support
• Community Engagement

For the proposed reform, explain:

• What the reform would involve
• Which problem or pattern from the case study it addresses
• How the reform would help prevent future misconduct
• One potential challenge or limitation to implementing the reform

Your proposals should focus on system-level changes, not individual punishment, and should demonstrate an understanding of how organizational structure, culture, and oversight influence officer behavior.

Instructions:

For this assignment, your essay should demonstrate your ability to express ideas clearly, use critical thinking, and organize your thoughts in a coherent manner. The essay should reflect your understanding of the topic, supported by research, facts, or personal experiences.

Your essay should be at least 500 words. Be sure to include your word count and at least two citations from you text book. Include in-text citations with the page number where the information appears. Example: (Smith, 2025, p. 37)

Additional Requirements:

• Formatting: Your essay should be typed in a readable font (Times New Roman, Arial) with 1-inch margins, using APA formatting. Use double spacing and include your name and the assignment title at the top of the document.
• Grammar and Style: Ensure your essay is free from grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Use clear and concise language. Avoid overly complex sentences, but make sure your writing is detailed enough to fully explain your points.
• Original Work: The essay should be your own work. It should not be copied directly from any sources, including the internet, textbooks, or AI-generated content. If you use any outside sources, make sure to paraphrase and cite them correctly.
• Citation: If you reference any external sources (books, articles, websites, etc.), be sure to cite them properly in APA format.
• These OWL resources will help you with the types of writing and research you may encounter in this and other classes while in college.

Important Notes:

• Use of AI: While AI tools can be helpful in brainstorming ideas, the essay you submit must reflect your own thoughts and writing. Directly using only AI-generated content is considered academic dishonesty, so be sure your work is original.

This assignment meets course competencies 1, 2, 5, and 6.

Written Assignment Rubric 50 (5)

Written Assignment Rubric 50 (5)CriteriaRatingsPtsContent, Substance, Ideas

15 pts

Exeptional/Thorough

Demonstrates a strong and comprehensive understanding of the topic. Addresses all parts of the prompt with depth, accuracy, and insight. Clearly integrates course concepts, terminology, and relevant examples. Content reflects critical thinking, analysis, and clear connections to criminal justice practice or theory.

12 pts

Proficient/Effective

Demonstrates solid understanding of the topic. Addresses most parts of the prompt clearly and accurately. Includes relevant examples or references to course material, though depth or analysis may be limited in places. Shows thoughtful engagement with the subject matter.

8 pts

Developing/Partial Understanding

Addresses the prompt but omits some key details or explanations. Demonstrates a basic grasp of ideas, but content may be general, uneven, or lack sufficient support. Limited use of examples or course material to demonstrate understanding.

4 pts

Limited/Minimal Understanding

Addresses only part of the topic or misunderstands key concepts. Provides little relevant information or development of ideas. Content lacks clarity, focus, or connection to course learning.

0 pts

No Submission/Off-Topic

Response is missing, off-topic, or fails to address the assignment prompt. Shows no understanding of the material or assignment expectations.

/ 15 pts

Examples, Evidence, Support

10 pts

Strong and Effective Support

Uses clear, relevant, and accurate examples or evidence to fully support key ideas. Demonstrates understanding through thoughtful connections between research, course concepts, and real-world applications.

5 pts

Limited or Inconsistent Support

Includes some examples or evidence, but they may be general, vague, or only loosely connected to the main ideas. Limited explanation of how evidence supports the point; reasoning may be incomplete or lack depth.

0 pts

Insufficient or Missing Support

Provides little to no relevant examples, details, or evidence. Ideas are unsupported or based on opinion without connection to facts, research, or course content.

/ 10 pts

Word Count

10 pts

500+ words

8 pts

400-499

6 pts

300-399

4 pts

200-299

2 pts

100-199

0 pts

Under 100 words

/ 10 pts

Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation

5 pts

Error Free

Writing is clear, polished, and professional. Virtually no errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Sentence structure and word choice enhance readability and professionalism.

4 pts

Proficient/Minor Errors

Writing is generally clear and professional. Contains a few minor grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors that do not distract from meaning. Sentences are mostly well-constructed and easy to follow.

3 pts

Developing/Noticeable Errors

Writing is understandable but contains frequent grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors. Errors sometimes interfere with clarity or flow. May need proofreading or revision for sentence structure and mechanics.

0 pts

Limited / Needs Significant Improvement

Frequent or severe grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors make the writing difficult to read or understand. Lacks proofreading and does not meet college-level writing standards. Submission may be incomplete or not written in standard English.

/ 5 pts

Provides Citation

5 pts

Full Marks

0 pts

No Marks

/ 5 pts

Provides Word Count

5 pts

Full Marks

0 pts

No Marks

/ 5 pts

Total Points: 0