Police Brutality
The Price of Police Brutality
Chris Lawton
Union Institute and University
Applied Ethics in Criminal Justice Management
CJM 303
Professor Toni Bland
October 19, 2012
Abstract
This paper will differentiate between reasonable force and excessive force. I will describe when excessive force turns into police brutality and how the police culture can influence police brutality. I will discuss some of the many negative repercussions that excessive force / police brutality have on the law enforcement officers, agency, city, community and profession.
The Price of Police Brutality
Is there a difference between excessive force and police brutality? Is one worse than the other? What are some of the negative aspects associated with excessive force or police brutality? Are there any positive side effects resulting from an agency dealing with an excessive force stigma? This paper will examine the various aspects of excessive force and police brutality has upon a police agency and law enforcement in general. I will explain the difference between excessive force and police brutality, and will examine if there are any positive benefits associated with these labels.
Police work is unique in that it is one of the few jobs that require using force in the performance of your duties. On a daily basis, officers working in the field use some degree of force. This may range from telling someone to sit down during a detention to the use of deadly force against an armed assailant. In order to determine what may constitute excessive force, we first need to define what reasonable force is. In California reasonable force is defined under Penal Code section 835a as, any peace officer who has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a public offense may use reasonable force to effect the arrest, to prevent escape or to overcome resistance (C.P.C 835(a). This provides an officer the authority to use force while in the performance of their duties.
Chris Lawton
Union Institute and University
Applied Ethics in Criminal Justice Management
CJM 303
Professor Toni Bland
October 19, 2012
Abstract
This paper will differentiate between reasonable force and excessive force. I will describe when excessive force turns into police brutality and how the police culture can influence police brutality. I will discuss some of the many negative repercussions that excessive force / police brutality have on the law enforcement officers, agency, city, community and profession.
The Price of Police Brutality
Is there a difference between excessive force and police brutality? Is one worse than the other? What are some of the negative aspects associated with excessive force or police brutality? Are there any positive side effects resulting from an agency dealing with an excessive force stigma? This paper will examine the various aspects of excessive force and police brutality has upon a police agency and law enforcement in general. I will explain the difference between excessive force and police brutality, and will examine if there are any positive benefits associated with these labels.
Police work is unique in that it is one of the few jobs that require using force in the performance of your duties. On a daily basis, officers working in the field use some degree of force. This may range from telling someone to sit down during a detention to the use of deadly force against an armed assailant. In order to determine what may constitute excessive force, we first need to define what reasonable force is. In California reasonable force is defined under Penal Code section 835a as, any peace officer who has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a public offense may use reasonable force to effect the arrest, to prevent escape or to overcome resistance (C.P.C 835(a). This provides an officer the authority to use force while in the performance of their duties.
References: Caldero, M., & Crank, J. (2011). Police Ethics The Corruption of Noble Cause (Rev. 3rd ed.). Burlington, Ma: Elsevier. Reasonable Force, P.C 835(a) California Penal Code Salazar, D., & Carpenter, E. (2012, September 9). Unrest cost Anaheim $1.7 million in officer OT. The Orange County Register Salazar, D., Hernandez, S., Carpenter, E., Irving, D., Emery, S., & Mello, M. (2012). Mayor asks for calm as feds agree to investigate. Retrieved from http://www.ocregister.com/articles/police-365369-diaz-officer.html The L.A. Riots: 15 Years After Rodney King. (2007). Retrieved from www.time.com/time/specials/2007/la_riot/article/0,28804,1614117_1614084_1614831,00.htlm