Which term describes illegal payments or favors intended to influence an officer's actions or decisions?

• A. Gratuities
• B. Implicit bias
• C. Bribes
• D. Grass-eaters

Answer: (A)

Bribery is the act of offering or accepting something of value to influence how an officer uses their official power. The key idea is an illegal exchange aimed at swaying decisions or actions. Gratuities, by contrast, are gifts or tips given in service contexts; they can be inappropriate or raise concerns of bias, but they aren’t necessarily illegal bribery unless there’s an explicit expectation of favorable treatment or policy violations. In policing, the clear hallmark of bribery is the intended exchange to affect official conduct, not merely the receipt of a gift.