Sexual harassment in police misconduct during arrest situations

Sexual Harassment by Police

Sexual Harassment Found in Police Misconduct l. Introduction

This project examines sexual harassment as a means of police misconduct. This paper explores this behavior within the context of an officer taking advantage of the role of power during an arrest situation where sexual harassment is perpetrated. This project will look at the issue from many angles including: from the department point-of-view and existing zero tolerance policies; from the officer's point-of-view including issues of occupational stress, trauma but also issues of training and morality; and finally from the public's point-of-view starting with the detainee and then covering the public perception in law enforcement.

Literature Review: Sexual Harassment and Police Misconduct

According to a study done in France by Deschamps et al., "Stress at work is an ill-health provoking factor. Police from minority groups such as ageing subjects or police officers have been reported to experience greater stress" (2). Is stress and trauma a factor leading up to negative behavior or is sexual harassment part of a greater immorality found in a small percentage of police officers? If so, how is it that police misconduct appears to be a growing trend worldwide and in America? Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides that it is unlawful for an employer "to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin." 42 U.S.C. 2000e-2(a)(1). It is the Civil Rights Act itself that lays the framework that one cannot be harassed on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national original, yet it appears due to prevailing cases against police officers across the United States that something is going despite zero tolerance for such behavior. Is it a matter of officer stress level due to increased crime rates or is it attitude not being addressed during times of training? Dennis Rome writes, "there is no clear consensus among citizens, researchers, community activists and police administrators as to the extent of such conduct in the general police force" (179). Research of case studies and a review of recent newspaper articles suggests differently and therefore a pursuit on the subject is warranted.

3. Background to the study

Methodology tools:

4. Empirical Results and Analysis

This section will analyze and present the results of the surveyed information and provide insight into what can be done for the future. It will also provide possible implications of such behavior and how these implications affect the public perception of law enforcement. This explores how such perception can lead to other acts of violence and new crime for the area. It also suggests the amount of impact such police misconduct has on the community.

5. Conclusion

Offers a summary of the facts of the study. Also allows for further explorations of possible resolutions.