'Testilying': The psychological and sociological determinants of police testimonial deception.
Item
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Title
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'Testilying': The psychological and sociological determinants of police testimonial deception.
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Identifier
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AAI9959208
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identifier
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9959208
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Creator
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McDonald, William H.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Robert Kelly
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Date
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2000
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Sociology, Criminology and Penology | Psychology, Industrial
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Abstract
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Police testimonial deception---the use of false or misrepresenting statements or intentional omissions of fact by the police, in writing or in speech, to further an arrest, or the seizure of evidence, or a criminal prosecution---has long been the subject of scholarly speculation. Unfortunately, it has not been the subject of much research, and almost nothing is known about the phenomenon from the police themselves. Using a descriptive research methodology, this study surveyed the deceptive testimonial practices of 444 police officers and of other police officers the participants knew personally. They reported on the frequency of its use; the methods employed; the reasons and rationales for engaging in such practices; and organizational or systemic influences to the behavior. Study results suggest the practice of reordering facts or omitting facts to strengthen a criminal case is much more common than previously realized. Findings also suggest police officers engage in 'testilying' in response to intense social pressure for crime control---the protection of society by the arrest and conviction of those factually guilty of crime. Such behavior is made necessary because some officers believe the socially approved means to this valued social goal---the rules of criminal procedure and similar legal technicalities---are ineffective. They make goal satisfaction difficult, frequently impossible. Many police officers react similarly to any such obstacles to goal satisfaction. Study concludes with an explanation of the psychological process involved based on the work of Albert Bandura, and offers suggestions for social responses to the problem, and for future research.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
