Ethics and Legitimacy in Law Enforcement: Motivation, Strategy, and Reform (Paperback)

Dr Raimundo Socorro

/ ISBN 13: 9798319721051

Published by Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2026

Paperback. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9798319721051

Synopsis:

In an era marked by public scrutiny, political division, and rapidly evolving expectations of law enforcement, Ethics and Legitimacy in Law Enforcement: Motivation, Strategy, and Reform offers a bold and necessary reexamination of policing in democratic society. Dr. Raimundo Socorro argues that ethical policing is not merely about avoiding misconduct--it is about cultivating legitimacy, earning public trust, and embracing the moral weight of authority entrusted to those who serve.

Drawing from moral philosophy, psychological theory, leadership science, and global reform efforts, this book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding policing as a vocation grounded in public service. Integrating McClelland's Theory of Needs, Public Service Motivation (PSM), procedural justice research, and international case studies from Camden, Rwanda, Northern Ireland, and Palestine, Socorro presents a vision of what he calls strategic guardianship-a model that moves beyond the warrior mindset and re-centers law enforcement around justice, human dignity, and democratic responsibility.

More than a textbook, this work is a call to reflection and reform. It challenges officers, leaders, scholars, and policymakers to confront difficult questions: What is the true purpose of policing? How should power be exercised in a free society? And how can institutions rebuild trust in communities where legitimacy has fractured?

 

Bibliographic Details

Title: Ethics and Legitimacy in Law Enforcement: ...
Publisher: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Publication Date: 2026
Binding: Paperback
Condition: new