Police Brutality and its Impact on the Criminal Justice System
Police brutality is explained as officers applying more force than what is needed to control a situation. For example, police brutality is when too much physical force is used or pulling a weapon against a civilian. Police officers have weapons supplied to them like handguns, pepper spray, batons, and stun guns, but they can only be used to the extent that is necessary to control a situation. However, if an officer shot a jaywalker or used any force at all it would be unreasonable. In addition, when threats or intimidation is used it is considered police brutality (Smith, 2016). Above all, if I witnessed police brutality I would contact a local law enforcement agency and inform
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As a result, the “BlackLivesMatters” movement has been brought to attention because of all black people that have died due to the actions of police by the mainstream. However, police brutality isn't just a problem for one individual ethnicity. Providing that, police departments are dissolving claims of brutality out of hand, the statistics are from self-reporting, or the issue begins from not following department policy (Small-Jordan, 2015). As a consequence, police brutality in America has reached such a turning point that society has reached an “us against them” attitude with criminals targeting officers and law enforcement. Also, the constant media coverage has impacted society and resulted in the need for reform or laws to minimize police brutality. In addition, in 2015 the Senate passed the “Death in Custody Reporting Act” due to the BlackLivesMatters movement. This bill requires police departments to report every death while taking an individual into custody to the Department of Justice. In the hope that, the number of people dying can be reduced. Additionally, this bill requires the Department of Justice to analyze deaths at the hands of law enforcement to make policy recommendations (Burke,
Evidently, police brutality is running the media lately, this is not so secretive but rather painful to hear. “Michael Brown’s murder represents the tip of a body pile... several videos have emerged of police assaulting people... for reasons justifiable only to the insane.” He alludes to one of the biggest police brutality murder cases in the country and continues by bringing up other brutality cases similar to that; the heroes who need to protect everyone as their legal job, are the ones hurting those in need.
Policing has seen much progress. Some reforms do work, and some types of abuse have been reduced. Today, among both police officials and rank and file officers, it is widely recognized that police brutality hinders good law enforcement. Whenever a new case of police brutality comes to light, people in the community must respond politically to ensure justice for the victim. These actions must be timely to be truly effective.
However, the police force in the United States uses more of a physical way of brutality. Though police brutality has been no new information about the police force, it has however become a very big issue in recent years. For the past few years according to the USA Today article, “The trauma of police brutality”, Americans have watched the news about police brutality very closely, and have seen that each victim of their violence was unarmed or they haven’t even done anything wrong. In the article, they explain about one instance, “Last year, Valdez was pinned to the floor and handcuffed by a police officer in a Houston mall. The officer pressed a taser and pushed a knee into his back.
Police Brutality is defined as being the abuse of power by the unwarrant finliction of excesscive usse of force, by an indivual that is involved in law enforcement, while in the emidst of performing their official duties. The term "excessive use of force" means a force that is well beyond what would be considered as being necessary in order to handle a situation. The term can also be abblied to abuses that havee been perpretrated by corrections professilas in state, federal, millitary and muncipal prisons. The word brutality has several different meanings. However, in the context of police brutality, it means savage or cruelty.
Police Brutality is the wanton use of excessive force, usually physical, but also common in forms of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer. Police brutality has been in St.Louis since 1917 back when there was still slavery and segregation laws,
Police Brutality is the use of excessive force that is used unnecessarily by police when dealing with civilians. Recently, there has been a widespread of cases involving police brutality. Police brutality cases has been increasing over the years. Every year cases are filed against police: 9.5% city police, 3.5% sheriff officers, 2.9% county police, and 1.3% are state police. A study by the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that in 2002, individuals filled over 26, 000 citizen complaints of excessive force with local law enforcement agencies.
This is why others might say officers should not be able to use force. They can also try and use reasoning instead of force. Some officers abuse their power and do not handle situations how they should be handled. This can cause others to get hurt and even worse, killed. On the website, “How to Handle Law Enforcement Abuse in California” it states, “‘Police brutality’ is another common term that refers to a police officer’s use of force that exceeds what is necessary or reasonable to carry out their lawful duties.
Police brutality occurs against those of all races and genders. A new form of violence between civilians and police
So far in the year of 2015, 66 unarmed African Americans have been killed by police authorities. Ever since the death Michael Brown in August 2014, the world has become much more aware of police brutality. According to wisegeek.org, police brutality is “a form of police misconduct in which officers engage in an excessive use of force.” Police brutality against African Americans is an issue that has been causing a lot of controversy in the past year. This issue needs much more awareness than ever before, since there have been many startling cases during and after the Ferguson protest.
This report is showing light to the communities’ response to police brutality particularly in the black communities and also their encounters with police officers. Police brutality is physical violence and great cruelty demonstrated by a police officer. Police brutality and misconduct have existed for many decades and it even has been broadcasted in news stories over America, but nothing has changed. It has happened predominantly to African Americans in lower-income states. Police officers are given slaps on the wrist for taking a life or injuring an innocent person.
Annotated Bibliography Books Dudley, William, et al., editors. Police Brutality. D.L. Bender, 1991. • Police Brutality gives information on how police brutality is a widespread issue in the United States and explains different controversies and cases that relate to police brutality. • The editors of this book include activists and nonfiction authors who provide reliable information on what happened during different incidences of police brutality and the viewpoints and controversies that come with it.
Police brutality will be an issue until a solution is created. Many individuals are victims of this form of assault on daily basis. The liberties held by law enforcement are challenged each time they perform their duties. Police officers should abide by the same laws that each citizen is expected to abide by. Although police officers are granted with the right to determine laws as constitutional, civilians are sometimes treated in ways that are beyond unlawful.
How does police brutality impact our society you ask? Statistics say From April 2009 to June 2010 In the United States there was 5986 reports of misconduct from a police officer that has been recorded. 382 Fatalities were linked To Police Misconduct. $347,455,000 Had been spent in related settlements and judgements.
Police brutality remains a common yet controversial topic around the world. Police brutality is “the use of excessive and/or unnecessary force by police when dealing with civilians” (thelawdictionary.org). It’s a topic that segregates communities and makes each other their enemy. Specifically, a white officer has been the enemy of the black community. Unfortunately, the tension between police and blacks grew over the past few decades.
Law enforcement agents are should behave to a standard that is greater than the average civilian. Police brutality comes from an abuse of power granted to the police. Police brutality is often drawn on by overreaction in certain situations drawn on by panic. Police using excessive force in the United States is a crucial dilemma and must be stopped.