A Longitudinal Study of the Effects of Academy Socialization on Police Integrity

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine changes in American recruits’ perceptions of the seriousness of behaviors related to police integrity from the beginning to the end of their academy training. Using a sample of 655 recruits from multiple academies in the United States, multilevel growth models were used. The results showed that the recruits rated scales related to misconduct, code of silence, and a noble cause less seriously at the end than at the beginning of their training. The results also showed that ethics training mitigated the effects of socialization, while organizational injustice intensified the effects of socialization. Female recruits rated the behaviors more seriously at the beginning and the end of training compared to male recruits. The results confirm the role of the academy in socializing officers into the negative aspects of the traditional police culture and highlight important avenues for police reform.

Breaking the Code of Silence: The Importance of Control Systems and Empathy Toward Outgroups

“…Recruits who had more positive attitudes toward the ethics training they received at the academy reported greater adherence to the code over time regarding accepting free gifts than recruits who had more negative attitudes toward the ethics training. Consistent with previous studies (Alain & Grégoire, 2008;Chan et al, 2003;Chappell & Lanza-kaduce, 2010;Conti, 2009;Schuck & Rabe-Hemp, 2021;Sherman, 1982;Van Maanen, 1973;Waddington, 1999), our findings support the assertion that experiences at training academies are associated with the adoption of the negative attributes of the policing occupation including those related to misconduct. However, the results also identify two key developmental mechanisms-systems of social control and outgroup antagonism-that may be leveraged to disrupt officers' fidelity to the code.…”

“…Questions were developed by the researchers with input from officers and police leaders (Rosenbaum et al, 2011). This investigation expands on research using National Police Research Platform (NPRP) data, specifically studies by Donner et al (2018) and Schuck and Rabe-Hemp (2021). The present study advances knowledge about the code by offering several advantages.…”

“…The police training academy is an important juncture in that trajectory. Most new recruits enter the academy with high expectations and noble ideals, but by the time they graduate, many adopt the negative attributes of the "canteen subculture," including those related to misconduct and deviant practices (Alain & Grégoire, 2008;Chan et al, 2003;Chappell & Lanza-kaduce, 2010;Conti, 2009;Schuck & Rabe-Hemp, 2021;Sherman, 1982;Van Maanen, 1973;Waddington, 1999). 1 The purpose of this study is to explore the developmental trajectory of recruits' attitudes toward the code, with a focus on their police training academy experiences.…”

Confluence of law enforcement, mental health, and race

“…Overall, we need to take a critical look at police training‐the curriculum, the messages that new police recruits receive during their time in academy, and if this training is efficacious. A study conducted by Schuck and Rabe‐Hemp (2021) found that the socialization process recruits went through while in police academy resulted in negative changes. At the end of academy, police recruits rated behaviors related to police misconduct and the “code of silence” less seriously compared to their ratings at the beginning of academy.…”

“…This implies that dangerous messages in policing are being taught early in a recruit’s career. A key criticism with some of the socialization practices in training academies has been an organizational devaluation of classroom training by people who are not police experts (Schuck & Rabe‐Hemp, 2021). Thus, systemic changes will be challenging if there are people within the system that are undermining efforts for improvement and decreasing the fidelity of the trainings being provided.…”