Illinois and especially Chicago are best known for their corrupt public officials. Since the days of Cermak and the Daley political machine, corruption has become second nature to these “public officials.” From election fraud to accepting "dirty" donations for alderman campaigns, corruption can be found from the top of the political ladder to the lowest government positions. Those involved in corruption have benefited greatly from their dirty deeds. Public residents are not directly aware of this corruption since they are not public officials, but most can attest to corruption when it involves local police officers and exploitation of the public. Although corruption has a basic generic definition, it is modified to suit the circumstance to which it is applied. Political corruption might be totally different from police corruption and that is why there must be a universal legal definition of police corruption. According to the Legal Dictionary, “Police corruption is the abuse of police authority for personal gain. Corruption may involve profit or another type of material advantage obtained illegally as a result of the official's authority. Typical forms of corruption include bribery, extortion, receiving or receiving stolen property, and drug sales. The term also refers to patterns of misconduct within a given police department or special unit, particularly where crimes are repeated with the acquiescence of superiors or through continued failure to correct them” (Law Library). Different forms of corruption can range from moderate to severe depending on the nature of the corrupt official and the person he is exploiting. A more moderate form of corruption would be where a police officer accepts money in... middle of paper......, citizens lose confidence in legal authority, and the department's credibility is compromised. The investigations are being questioned as to whether or not they were tainted by officers covering up certain illegal activities or the means of obtaining a confession from a suspect. Works CitedHollist, D.R. (n.d.). Retrieved July 11, 2011, from University of Montana: http://www.umt.edu/sociology/faculty_staff/hollist/documents/Soc332_Lecture14_CorruptioninAmericanPolcing.pdfLaw Library. (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2011, from Law Library - American Law and Legal Information: Police Corruption and Misconduct - History, Contemporary Problems, Further Reading Sherman, L. (2007). An introduction to policing. Wadsworth Publishing; 4th edition (March 14, 2007).