Sexual Harassment by Police Sexual

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:

Literature Review

Case Study and Case Law found in Literature Review that offer pertinent information to first how and why the sexual harassment took place and then how to change laws and police training to stop it from happening in the future.

Construction of survey and questionnaire to conduct a study of a specific segment of police officers at the local level. Such questions (as examples below suggest) will ask the following and remain confidential: (1) Were they provided with appropriate training? (2) How do they feel when faced with such situations? (3) Have they been provided with counseling? (4) Have they witnessed such a situation and if so with who? (5) What factors instigated the situation? (6) Is it a matter of power? (7) What changes can be made to department policy from such situations happening in the future?