Ethical orientations of state police recruits and one-year experienced officers

The ecological theory of police response: a state police agency test

“…The remaining studies involved such issues as racial disparities in traffic stops (Engel, Calnon, Liu, & Johnson, 2004;Lange, Johnson, & Voas, 2005;Persico & Todd, 2008;Smith et al, 2003), personnel policies (Church & Robertson, 1999;Edwards, 1993;Edwards & Tewksbury, 1996;Hicks, 2006;Reichman & Beidel, 1989;Whetstone, Reed, & Turner, 2006), and trooper work attitudes (Catlin & Maupin, 2002Charles, 1981;Weiss, Johnson, Serafino, & Serafino, 2001). Since these few studies summarize the bulk of the social scientific literature on state police agencies and their operations, there clearly is a need for more studies about these agencies.…”

Professional Boundaries: Crossing a Line or Entering the Shadows?

“…Local subcultures can introduce alternative ethical hierarchies, including a code of silence (Ekenvall, 2002). Also of wider relevance is the notion of ethical burn-out; Catlin and Maupin (2002) found that new male police recruits were predominantly 'idealistic' whilst their counterparts of one year's experience in the job were predominantly 'relativist'. Similar changes were identified in Alain and Grégoire's (2008) study of Quebec police recruits.…”

Police, culture, and ethics: toward an understanding and expansion of police culture and ethical research

“…However, research on this question has been mixed. Whereas Rothwell and Baldwin (2007) and Catlin and Maupin (2002) have found differences between groups, Ekenvall (2003) did not. Catlin and Maupin (2002) found recruits to hold more idealistic character dimensions while experienced officers held more relativistic ethical dimensions.…”

“…Whereas Rothwell and Baldwin (2007) and Catlin and Maupin (2002) have found differences between groups, Ekenvall (2003) did not. Catlin and Maupin (2002) found recruits to hold more idealistic character dimensions while experienced officers held more relativistic ethical dimensions. Ethical idealism refers to the belief that "right" actions result in the best possible outcome while ethical relativism refers to the belief that there are no universal ethical truths and that what is right or wrong varies (Catlin & Maupin, 2002).…”

“…Catlin and Maupin (2002) found recruits to hold more idealistic character dimensions while experienced officers held more relativistic ethical dimensions. Ethical idealism refers to the belief that "right" actions result in the best possible outcome while ethical relativism refers to the belief that there are no universal ethical truths and that what is right or wrong varies (Catlin & Maupin, 2002). Ekenvall (2003), on the other hand, found no evidence to suggest ethics instructors (which, by definition, are more experienced) held different views concerning ethics than rookies.…”