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Fighting Corruption in Security Sector Reform

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Issue Areas

Experts

Robert M. Perito

Centers

Centers of Innovation
Security Sector Governance Center

Initiatives

Security Sector Reform Working Group
May 2010 | Peace Brief by Robert Perito and Madeline Kristoff

Summary

  • Corruption in the security sector damages society’s trust in the government.
  • Donors must coordinate on anti-corruption programs and make sure not to engage in corruption themselves.
  • Corruption is highly political and context specific.
  • Fighting both high and low-levels of corruption should be a priority in security sector reform.

About This Brief

This report is based on a February 25, 2010 panel presentation and the views expressed on fighting corruption in SSR during a meeting of the Security Sector Reform Working Group. The panel consisted of Raymond Gilpin, vice president of the Center for Sustainable Economies at USIP, Rachel Nield, legal adviser at the Open Society Justice Initiative, former Chief of Police Michael Berkow (retired), president of Altegrity Security Consulting, and Alex Berg, a USIP peace scholar. Robert Perito, director of USIP’s Security Sector Governance Initiative, moderated the panel.