The Police Subculture: Understanding its Importance for Policing and Police

• In Event: Roundtable: Policing

Abstract

Culture can be a defining contract that continues to root itself into the lives of individuals to the point where weakening its influence seems out of reach. The subculture associated with the field of policing is a prime example of this cultural contract. Prior literature has addressed aspects of the police subculture including its characteristics, its existence, and its role in new policing approaches such as community-oriented policing; however, the previous orthodox conception of the police subculture bleeds into each new era of policing. Officers are defined by the demands of their positions and their organizations. Focusing on contemporary trends in policing that are driven by political regimes and pinpointing specific characteristics inherent in the subculture are not conducive to any type of true transition within the culture. The police subculture continues to exist due to the fundamental roles of their position remaining the same. This work will entail an exhaustive literature review covering the various themes presented in prior research on the police subculture. The goal of this research is to identify areas that need to be addressed in future work and outline strategies for addressing these areas.

Author

• Stacey Clifton, Virginia Tech