...How Can We Reduce the Police`s Use of Excessive Force? Police`s use of excessive force happens in the United States every year. Even more, excessive force by police causes a thousand civilians to be killed in 2014 (Scott Shackford). In the quote, “We have an incredible warrior class in this country. People in law enforcement, intelligence and I thank God every night we have them standing fast to protect us from the tremendous amount of evil that exists in the world” by Brad Thor, describes clearly about police, and they have seen as a shield for civilians. They can protect civilians from the harms from criminals. On the other hand, a lot of civilians get over harm during law enforcement. If we want police to become better effect for communities, the top priority is that we need reduce the police use of excessive force. First of all, police should wear body camera to reduce police brutality. According to the article, “Self-Awareness to Being Watched and Socially-Desirable Behavior: A Field Experiment on the Effect of Body-Worn Cameras on Police Use-of-Force." By Barak Ariel, PhD describes “body cameras can give police some limitation by creating self-awareness. (8)” Once they want to abuse their power, they will think that they can get punishment from those evidences recorded by cameras. Second of all, ethics training reduces excessive force significantly. Furthermore, it can improve police ethics during the law enforcement, and it will help them thinking before they pull trigger...
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...authorized to use force in specified circumstances, are trained in the use of force, and typically face numerous circumstances during their careers when use of force is appropriate, for example, in making some arrests, restraining unruly combatants, or controlling a disruptive demonstration. When the level of force exceeds the level considered justifiable under the circumstances, however, the activities of the police come under public scrutiny. This article deals with police and the use of excessive force. This article discus the police use of excessive force. This is a research agenda on police use of force, giving special attention to problems of excessive force. A variety of questions are raised, both reflecting the complexity of use-of-force issues and the relative scarcity of our knowledge about use-of-force transgressions. Introduction Police use of force became a very hot topic during the beginning of the 1990’s. It became a very controversial issue due to the fact that police officers most of the time they justify their abuse of use force. Since there job is to secure the city streets and to protect the citizens, they usually say that they were just doing their job. This created fear in many people because they witness most of the abuse on television or heard it directly from the victim. The Rodney King case and the Amadu Diallo had a deep impact on society concerning the authority of police officers...
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...Police Worn Body Cameras: A Step in the Right Direction Andrew Cordier ENG122: English Composition II Instructor Amy Morris August 18, 2016 There have been numerous advances in technology in recent years and some include law enforcement. Over the years, there have been huge strides in the technological advances in surveillance. Police Departments are one of these groups who have seen an increase in surveillance technology like dashboard mounted cameras, and now law enforcement agencies are looking to equip their officers with body cameras that can be worn on an officer’s lapel, glasses, and on their chest. The idea of equipping officers with these body cameras has been a hot topic of debate in light of recent past events, such as the unarmed shooting of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson Missouri Mandatory use of body cameras should be put into place because it will protect civilians from the use of excessive force and hold officers responsible for their actions, not invade the privacy of both the public and police officers with the proper guidelines in place, and lower the rates of police use of excessive force, while lowering the rates of false claims against officers. With more and more cases of use of excessive force against civilians, people across America are becoming outraged by the actions of police officers and feel that taking the word of an officer is no longer good enough to explain their actions. Americans across the nation want answers...
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...Abstract Police brutality coupled with the use of force has become a social highlight throughout the last few years. It is an ever-increasing problem that is in dire need of immediate action to be taken before things spiral further out of control. This paper suggests approaches that can be used to help reduce the use of force that has become a highlighted topic. Introduction Police officers have a vital role in their communities; they are the ones community members turn to in a time of need. “To protect and serve” has been one of the most recognizable phrases in law enforcement. However, because of more recent conflicts and the negative media against police officers, this phrase has little meaning. In recent news, it has been said and shown that many police officers have been abusing the power given to them. One of the more recent, and notorious cases being the Ferguson shooting that involved a white police officer shooting an African American named Michael Brown in August 9th 2014 (Department of Justice, 2015 pg. 4). The issue itself is not necessarily about race, but more so officers using excessive force with the use of improper weapons handling, and abusing the power granted the moment they take their oath. As a result of these recent incidents, new methods must be applied in the manner in which peace officers conduct themselves in diverse and complex situations, along with the way they are held accountable for their actions. Police Use of Excessive Force Although...
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...Reasonable force or police bruait In common with all citizens, the police may use reasonable force where necessary for self-defence, defence of another, defence of property, the prevention of a crime, or during a lawful arrest. Under Section 117 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), the police are also empowered to use ‘reasonable force’ if necessary when exercising the powers conferred to them under that act (except those which require someone other than a police officer’s consent). What constitutes ‘reasonable force’? There have been several cases involving a member of the public and the police in which the question has been raised as to what constitutes ‘reasonable force’ and what amounts to police brutality. Police brutality generally means that a member of the police force has intentionally used excessive force in order to carry out a lawful police purpose. The brutality is usually physical. PACE says that the police officer using force must honestly believe that it is justified and not excessive. In cases brought against the police involving the question of police brutality, Crown Prosecution Service guidance suggests that the following considerations should be taken into account in assessing the reasonableness of the force used: •whether the force was justified in the circumstances or whether it was excessive; •the nature and degree of the force used; •the seriousness of the offence which the police were trying to prevent, or for which an arrest...
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...Members of the police force are government officials who enforce the laws and maintain order. They are engaged in a dangerous and stressful occupation that can involve violent situations that must be controlled. In many of these confrontations with the public it may become necessary for the police to administer force to take control of a situation. Sometimes this force takes the form of hand-to-hand combat with a suspect who resists being arrested. The police do have strict guidelines to follow when using force. Force should be used in only the minimum amount needed to achieve a legitimate purpose. The New York Police Department has these five stages set through which the use of force can progress. 1) verbal persuasion, 2) unarmed physical force, 3) force using non-lethal weapons, 4) force using impact weapons, 5) deadly force (AIUSAPolice Brutality 1999:2). They also have many tools at their disposal when the need for using force arises. These include the police baton, mace, tasers, handcuffs, police dogs, and firearms. An officer of the law can be properly trained to administer the law in an unbiased way that will not violate a citizen’s rights, however, this is not happening across the United States. According to a recent Amnesty International study, there are thousands of reports each year of assault and ill treatment against officers who use excessive force and violate the human rights of their victims (AIUSA Rights 1999:1). Police officers are injuring and even killing...
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...Are police officers allowed to use force when arresting or restraining an individual? What is the reason behind police officers using extreme and lethal force? Why are officers not held accountable for the actions they make? Will there ever be a reasonable answer for using police brutality? How can one define police brutality and the effect it has on the African American community? Why are African Americans receiving the wrong end of the stick in many situations? Police brutality is becoming a frequent topic of discussion and the possible solution are better training and communication skills developed. Police brutality is the process of exerting excessive force, and it can be determined as the abuse from higher authority. The brutality from...
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...Police Brutality Police Brutality Prof. Carolyn Snell CRMJ 470 Claflin University of Orangeburg Abstract Police brutalities have left many victims in a state of emotional and physical stress, and in some cases, the victims did not survive. Most police brutality occurs during the course of arrest and within the dispute of other incidents in the street or public places. Some of these events even occur while the arrest suspect is already in handcuffs and in police custody, on the way to the station, or while at the station. The Criminal Justice System is an organized body of men and women that have accepted the task of enforcing the law and maintaining public order. A system of this sort exists in every country. Police are employed with the duty of protecting lives and property against criminals and preserving domestic peace. These people are active in a perilous and strenuous occupation that can involve violent circumstances that must be controlled. In many of these disorders with the public, it may become necessary for the police to use force to take control of a situation. In some cases, applying force to a situation requires hand-to-hand combat with a suspect that is not willing to comply with the will of the authorities. The officers have a strict guidelines to follow when using force in any given situation. Along with these guidelines come tools that these officers have at their disposal to aid them in law enforcement. These tools include batons, mace,...
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...Discretion is defined as the authority to make a decision between two or more choices. More specifically, it is defined as “the capacity to identify and to document criminal and noncriminal events. Every police officer has a great deal of discretion concerning when to use their authority, power, persuasion, or force. Depending on how an officer sees their duty to society will determine an officer’s discretion. Discretion leads to selective enforcement practices and may result in discrimination against certain groups of people or select individuals (Young, 2011). Most police officer discretion is exercised in situational situations with individuals (Sherman, 1984). Discrimination can lead to legal problems for an officer of the law. If discrimination due to an officer’s use of discretion results in a violation of due process it is a violation of the law (Young, 2010). Due process is the constitutionally mandated procedural steps designed to eliminate error in any governmental deprivation of liberty, life, or property (Pollock, 2010). One of the main concerns with using discretion is the possibility of it leading to a violation of due process by racial profiling. Types of Negative Police Discretion Racial profiling occurs when a police officer uses a “profile” as reasonable suspicion to stop a person with the intent to obtain consent to search their belongings (Pollock, 2010). These stops are usually traffic stops and the officer is looking to obtain consent to search the...
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...Use of Force “Police rarely face charges after a deadly encounter with a civilian. When they do, the case rarely ends with a conviction.” The use of force has been questioned a lot lately because of the recent police shooting. The amount of force is necessary is unique to each situation, may change as a situation evolves, and often depends on the experience level of the officer. Use of force is an accepted part of police work. Just making an arrest is a use of force. The use of force is allowed by law until the force becomes excessive, at which point the action becomes criminal. Excessive force refers to a situation where government officials legally entitled to use force exceed the minimum amount necessary to diffuse an incident or to...
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...Policing in the Future: Use of Force CJA333 May 11, 2009 Policing in the Future: Use of Force The role of being a police officer is one of the most stressful and challenging tasks one can be charged with. An officer is expected to assess any given situation and is always supposed to make the right decision when dealing with that situation. This can be very difficult to deal with when a situation is becoming very intense and almost out of hand. An officer must gain control of the situation, restore order, and ensure safety for themselves and for civilians. However, ensuring the safety for an individual is difficult when an officer has to use force on the individual. The use of force is a very sensitive topic because officers are authorized to use force if they deem it necessary and that can go to lethal force. The majority of the public does not always agree with the use of force and excessive force is always looked at if any force is used. An officer is supposed to use force, but not too much force. Policing is a thankless job and one that brings a great deal of responsibility and risk. The officers must deal with having to use force and the management and superiors within a department are supposed to ensure proper training and review of any use of force. Ultimately the police must respect individual rights, and protect the community, even if that means using force. The use of force has and will always draw critical reviews from society...
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...Allegations of excessive force by police departments in the United States have continued to generate large media coverage across the nation. After the Rodney King incident in 1991, public outcry regarding the use of excessive force was thrown into public view causing reform in law enforcement. As the years continued, incidents of police brutality have continued to plague the nation. In the state of Ferguson, the fatal shooting of Michael Brown occured at the hands of officer, Darren Wilson, which set off giant unrest and protests within their communities. In addition, Eric Garner, a citizen of New York, was also killed by a local officer through the use of a brutal “chokehold” sparking even more outrage. Countless cases of police brutality...
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...Police brutality is the use of excessive force by officers against civilians. The word “excessive” meaning more than is actually necessary. In today’s society police brutality has almost become an every month occurrence. It seems as if every month there is a different case of police brutality being flashed across our television screens. Police Brutality is very detrimental in our society today because it start riots, upset citizens, and implement fear of future incidents in the hearts of civilians. Just the thought of police brutality saddens citizens all across the country. There has been many cases where officers who were accused of committing police brutality have been pardoned by the judge. Majority of those incidents resulted in citizens...
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...the law that’s supposed to protect you? Police brutality is the use of excessive force against a civilian. Police brutality has been going on for a while and it is a human rights violation, which many minorities in the U.S. have to fear. And that’s because police have acted in a way that make people wonder if you can you trust them to do their job of keeping the peace since they’re the ones not following the law. The most seen use of force by police officers, include shootings, beatings, and rough treatments of citizen. One prime example of this would be Eric Garner who “On July 17, New York police put into a chokehold after they confronted him for selling cigarettes. Videos show an officer pulling Garner to the ground and then Squeezing his head on the floor, And Eric yelling I can’t breathe” (According to...
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...I. Introduction What is Police brutality? Police brutality is the use of “excessive and/or unnecessary force” by police when dealing with civilians. Police brutality can be present in number of ways. The most obvious form of police brutality is a physical form. Police officers can use nerve gas, batons, pepper spray, and guns in order to physically intimidate or even intentionally hurt civilians. Police brutality can also take the form of false arrests, verbal abuse, psychological intimidation, sexual abuse, police corruption, racial profiling, political repression and the improper use of Tasers. Nowadays, many countries have laws which address police brutality. Under these laws, police brutality is seen as a very serious offense and investigated by a commission of district attorneys. Unfortunately, even with the law covering police brutality, many complaints made by civilians about excessive use of force are not investigated. Researchers suggest that it happens because the police have the authority to use force when necessary, and, often, it is difficult to prove that police brutality has taken place. More police officers now constantly record all interactions with civilians. Later on the recorded conversations can be reviewed in the case of an investigation. Even though racial profiling still exists, anyone regardless of race, gender or age can become a victim of police brutality. If a person experienced police misconduct, he or she needs to write down the names of all witnesses...
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