DEVIANCE AND POLICE ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE IN SLOVENIA

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to examine the correlation between police deviance and police organisational culture in Slovenia. Design/Methodology/Approach: Data for the study were gathered from 847 police officers in eleven Police Directorates in Slovenia in 2006. In the preliminary study (Banutai, Mesko & Sifrer, 2009) five factors of police organisational culture emerged. The factors are: 1. Management - cooperation & support, 2. Management - trust & encouragement, 3. Officers'. commitment (responsibility), 4. Work challenges, and 5. Citizens - police officers relationship. A regression analysis was conducted to explore if any of the factors of police organisational culture can predict police deviance. Findings: A comparison of police officers who support deviant behaviour and those who do not shows that significant differences are found in regard to understanding of management - cooperation and support, officers' commitment, work challenges, and citizens - police officers relationship. Due to the fact that about 20 percent of police officers expressed a deviant perspective on police work, it is necessary to take into consideration police ethics influence and legal perspectives of policing on basic and all on-the-job trainings. It is also responsibility of top and middle management to assure professional policing in accordance with the rule of law, respect of human rights and people's dignity. Research limitations/implications: This research was conducted on representative sample of Slovenian police officers with the questionnaire used in Slovenia for the first time. Originality/Value: Research on police organisational culture and deviance has been a topic of study for more than 40 years worldwide, while little has been done on these organisational issues in Slovenia. This research explores organisational culture and deviance in the Slovenian police, examining the various perceptions among line officers.