Police excessive force: outcomes for victims and public response

¶ … Excessive Psychological and Physical Force on Victims and the Public: An Exploration of Police Practices

The subject of excessive use of violence by authoritative figures has been widely examined throughout history. Alpert and Smith suggest that the authority of the police to use force "represents one of the most misunderstood powers granted to representatives of government" suggesting that police officers are authorized to use psychological and physical force to apprehend criminals (p. 481). When does this use of force become excessive or unreasonable?

There is relatively little data that examines the outcomes of police violence though much research has devoted its time to examining the causes of excessive force (Hale & Ross, 2000, p. 2). Thus the aim of this research proposal will be to examine the result of excessive violence and the impact excessive violence has on the responses of those affected and ordinary citizens.

The goal of this study will be to narrow the gap in this aspect of research and uncover how much excessive violence takes place and what can be done to control/limit the excessive use of force within police institutions.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this research study will be to provide insight and information relative to the outcome excessive force has on victims and the public.

The information is useful because up until this point in time, a majority of the research surrounding violence has focused on the causes rather than the outcomes. Relatively little research has also been conducted that examines police agency responses to use of excessive force. Until these factors are examined in greater detail, it is unlikely that patterns of excessive force will change.

The study will also examine the extent to which use of excessive force is problematic in police agencies, both large and small.

Preliminary Literature Review

There is a large body of research that supports the notion that excessive use of force is still a pressing issue among police agencies. The purpose of the full literature review will be to examine the historical framework for police violence, identified causes of violence and other information relevant to the consequences of violence in modern society. There are those that suggest that police violence and use of excessive force stems from threats from sub-minority groups, and argue that "police violence is used to control racial and economic classes deemed threatening to the existing social order" (Smith, 2003, p. 1; Holmes, 2000; Harring, Platt, Speiglman & Takagi, 1977).

Alpert and Smith suggest that police are asked to make grounded decisions under high stress situations under high potentially high degrees of physical and mental stress (Alpert & Smith, 1994, p. 482). Stress therefore must be considered a critical factor with regard to police violence and use of excessive force.

Gallup poll conducted in March of 1991 suggested that 20% of citizens knew someone who had been "mistreated" or abused by police" and estimates of excessive force from observational studies "range from 1.05 to 5.1% of citizen contacts" (Alpert & Smith, 1994, p. 482). Other studies suggest that excessive force may be used more frequently. The aim of this study will be in part to examine to what extent use of excessive force is problematic.

Some studies suggest that police are out of control and use excessive force in unnecessary situations (Maier, 2000, p. 10). There is a large body of research to support this opinion. The survey conducted will in part measure public opinion regarding this issue.

The total number of excessive police reactions noted in the media in the last 14 years surpasses the records set by previous violent riots during the 60s (Hale & Ross, 2000, p. 2).

There is much evidence to suggests that acts of police violence and excessive force are often similar, but the consequences are often different; according to some researchers "when police engage in violence it is uncertain whether individuals, groups and institutions remain passive or press for changes in the system" (Hale & Ross, 2000, p. 2). At best, one may conclude at present there is little known about the variety of responses to incidents of police use of force and the actual number of instances where excessive force may be used.

Conclusion

The preliminary literature review suggests that excessive use of force by police agencies is very much an issue in modern society. The goal of this study will be to examine the outcome, impacts and implications of such violence for the future.

Proposed References:

Abraham John D. et al. 1981. "Police Use of Deadly Force: A Toronto Perspective." Osgoode Hall Law Journal, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 199-236.

Adcock Thomas Larry. 1984. Precinct 19. New York: Berkeley Books.

Albrecht S.L. And M. Green. 1977. "Attitudes Toward the Police and the Larger Attitude Complex: Implications for Police -Community Relationships." Criminology, Vol. 15, pp. 485-494.

Alpert, Geoffrey P.; Smith, William C. (1994). "How Reasonable is the Reasonable Man? Police and Excessive Force." Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Vol. 85, Issue 2; pp. 481-501

Bass, Sandra. (2001). "Police Space, Policing Race: Social Control Imperatives and Police Discretionary Decisions." Social Justice, Vol. 28, Issue 1. p. 156

Cao, L., Deng, X., & Barton, S. (2000). A test of Lundman's organizational product thesis with data on citizen complaints. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, 23(3), 356-373.

Cao, L., & Huang, B. (2000). Determinants of citizen complaints against police abuse of power. Journal of Criminal Justice, 28, 203-213.

Decker, S.H., & Smith, R.L. (1980). Police minority recruitment: A note on its effectiveness in improving Black evaluations of the police. Journal of Criminal Justice, 8, 387-393.