...In the modern day media, the debate of police abusing their power comes up quite often. A recent example of that would be the shooting of Michael Brown which occurred in Ferguson, Missouri just 2 months ago. This was an example of a police officer using excessive force. Throughout time the idea of Police using excessive force has been recognized more and more. A pretty interesting statistic I found was from More (1972), which basically says since the early 1970s, police murdered a person a day since the statistics were conducted. According to Hickman and Piquero(2009), the question of trusting police to cooperate with citizens has been recognized since the 1960s when America was split because of race. Of course many of you know the 1960s were a time where blacks were beaten because of the Civil Rights Act. Because of incidents and statistics like these, excessive use of police force should be limited more than it currently is. Excessive of use of police force a lot of times can cause many outrages throughout a society. Things like rallies as well as riots can occur. Take for example the Rodney King case. The whole entire city of Los Angeles literally went into chaos because of the verdict on the trial....
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...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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...Excessive Force and Police Brutality Being arrested is a frightening and traumatic event that is made much worse when police officers act with excessive force or brutality. Excessive force and police brutality is becoming more prevalent as a means us subduing a suspect. In some cases, the amount of force used to apprehend and subdue a suspect exceeds the boundaries of reasonable physical force. When this occurs, the lawyers of Van Sant Law, LLC are ready to hold police officers accountable for their unnecessary use of force. What is considered reasonable force? Determining what is reasonable force is a question for the courts to determine based upon the relevant facts and circumstances of the particular case. However, the Supreme Court...
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...In 2018, Police have killed 352 people in the United State. Since the beginning of law enforcement brutality in the early 1900s, officers have not been convicted of violent crimes after incidents dealing with the abusive use of power and violence. Since the mid-1900s, people in the United States have spoken out in demand for justice, just to be neglected by the government. The government has not been able to change the structure of policing to cut down on police violence even though there are proven solutions. For these reasons, John Locke’s social contract that says that the government derives from the people has been broken. The government has not acted on this issue even after millions of Americans have spoken out in the form of marches...
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...“Police Brutality is out of hand” Police brutality is well known across hundreds of nations all over the world. Police brutality has been around for several centuries and has a very important meaning in the lives of many. The definition of police is the civil force of a national or local government, responsible for the prevention and detection of a crime and the maintenance of public order. Yet people have witnessed police taking advantage of their authority and not following the rules a policeman should follow. They are supposed to protect and keep trouble out of the cities. Police brutality needs to come to an end; this has always been a problem. They hurt people for no reason, arrest them when they haven't done anything wrong, and they get away with what they do. Police brutality...
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...have to worry about a police officer using excessive force that could lead to injury. According to a podcast, “A 14-year-old boy was hospitalized after police officers used excessive force without body cameras”(Police Officers). Currently, many police officers use excessive force, “after body cameras were implicated there was a 60% drop in the use of excessive force”(White and Coldren). According to an article,” Not wearing body cameras can lead to unnecessary hospitalizations and deaths”(ProCon.org). This issue is critical because police officers will continue to use excessive force, leading to more deaths and hospitalizations. Police officers should be required to wear body cameras to improve accountability, protect officers and citizens, and provide evidence when no physical evidence is available. A primary concern as to why police officers should wear body cameras is to improve officer accountability. According to a podcast, “Police officers were not wearing body cameras at the time they hospitalized the 14-year-old boy”(Police Officers). This evidence is significant because if the officers wore body cameras they may have been found guilty of using excessive force with evidence. Additionally, an article states "Body cameras can help solve...
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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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