Citation

Crank J, Flaherty D, Giacomazzi A. J. Crim. Justice 2007; 35(1): 103-116.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2006.11.019

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Literature on police ethics has employed the term “noble cause” to describe a utilitarian orientation toward crime control. No empirical research, however, has systematically investigated the noble cause, a shortcoming addressed in this study. A survey of deputies in a western sheriff's office provided the setting for the current research. Twelve items tapping the noble cause revealed a multidimensional latent structure composed of three factors. Findings did not support the presence of a link between measures of the noble cause and crime. A positive though inconsistent relationship was found between measures of the noble cause and deputies' attitudes toward administrators.