Abstract

AZAOLA GARRIDO, Elena  and  RUIZ TORRES, Miguel Ángel. Police Roles: Power Abuse and Punitive Euphemism in the Policía Judicial de la Ciudad de México (Mexico City Judicial Police). Desacatos [online]. 2010, n.33, pp.95-110. ISSN 2448-5144.

This study is based on ethnographic material analysis, obtained through the implementation of discussion groups, in which 166 police officers, belonging to all ranks of the Policía Judicial de la ciudad de México (Mexico City Judicial Police), participated. It inquires into abuse of authority and corruption practices that have to be understood considering the need of institutional reproduction to conserve labor niches and resource acquisition strategies. It also considers the role of such practices on precarious employment conditions and power abuse suffered by police officers, forcing them to establish particular moral codes and behavior rules that, in their turn, frequently generate abuses towards civil society. Finally, it analyzes the use of legal euphemisms that are transformed into domination alibis derived from the State's legitimacy.

Keywords : police; power abuse; corruption; impunity; State; institutional violence; euphemistic language.