As policing developed in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, the criminal justice system began to experience what?

• A. Corruption
• B. Efficiency
• C. Racism
• D. Overfunding

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that early urban policing was heavily tied to political power, and this connection spawned widespread corruption. As policing grew in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, police departments often operated under the influence of political machines. Appointments, promotions, and employment were driven by loyalty and patronage rather than merit, and officers frequently engaged in bribe-taking, ticket fixing, and protection of vice operations in exchange for payments or favors. This corrosive relationship undermined fairness and trust in the criminal justice system, making corruption the defining problem of that development period. While concerns about efficiency, race dynamics, or funding issues existed, they were not the central phenomenon described; corruption due to political control best explains the observed pattern.