Police Brutality and Use of Force

Abstract

This paper provides an examination of the problem of police brutality and use of force and ways the issue can be addressed in a positive manner. Among those ways it discusses using body cams to enhance accountability, unconscious bias training, community policing, and citizen review boards. The paper concludes by making recommendations based on these discussions, which include analyzing the pros and cons of all and evaluating how the cons might best be overcome. Ultimately, the paper shows that police brutality and use of force are issues that can be addressed effectively with the right implementation of positive steps forward, including the wearing of body cams, additional training, and assistance from the community.

Keywords: police brutality, use of force, body cams, civilian review boards, unconscious bias police training

Introduction

Police use of force and police brutality are complex and multifaceted issues that have garnered significant attention in recent years. There are many factors that contribute to these issues, including the way in which police are trained, the policies and procedures that govern their behavior, and the cultural and societal context in which they operate.

One of the key issues related to police use of force is the lack of clear and consistent guidelines for when and how much force is appropriate (Engel et al., 2020). Different police departments and jurisdictions may have different policies in place, and officers may also have discretion in determining the appropriate level of force in a given situation. This lack of clarity can lead to confusion and misunderstandings, and can also make it difficult for officers to effectively de-escalate situations.

Another key issue is the lack of transparency and accountability in cases where police use excessive force or engage in brutality (Morton, 2018). In many cases, there are insufficient systems in place to ensure that officers are held accountable for their actions, which can contribute to a culture of impunity and further undermine trust in the police. This paper will look at the issues and solutions to this problem and discuss ways in which the problem of police brutality may be positively addressed.

Problem Statement

The problem statement for the issue of police brutality and use of force is: Police brutality and excessive use of force have long been a problem in the United States, with devastating consequences for individuals, communities, and the reputation and credibility of the police (Bennell et al., 2021). Despite efforts to address these issues, they persist, and there is a need for more effective solutions that can help to reduce the frequency and severity of incidents of police violence.

It is the aim of this paper to show that implementing body-worn cameras and providing unconscious bias training for police officers are evidence-based solutions that have the potential to significantly reduce incidents of police brutality and excessive use of force, but they must be implemented and used effectively in order to be successful.

This paper will also touch upon other potential solutions that will be included in this analysis such as:

Improved training and education for police officers, including training in de-escalation, conflict resolution, and cultural competency.

More effective policies and procedures governing the use of force, including clear guidelines for when and how much force is appropriate;

Greater transparency and accountability in cases where police use excessive force or engage in brutality, including the establishment of independent oversight bodies such as civilian review boards or independent investigators

Community policing approaches that focus on building trust and partnerships between police and the communities they serve.

Civilian oversight to help ensure a proper review of police actions.

It is important to note that addressing police brutality and excessive use of force will likely require a combination of these and other solutions, and that these solutions must be implemented and supported at all levels of the criminal justice system, including local, state, and federal agencies.

Different Perspectives and Statistics

It is difficult to accurately quantify the prevalence of police brutality and excessive use of force, as these incidents are often underreported and may not be accurately recorded. However, some studies and reports have attempted to shed light on the extent of these problems.

According to data from the Washington Post (2022), as of December 2021, police in the United States have killed over 6,800 people since 2015, and average killing approximately one thousand people every year. This includes individuals who were unarmed, as well as those who were armed but did not pose a serious threat to the officers or others.

A report from the Lancet found that Black Americans are significantly more likely to be killed by police than white Americans. A study conducted over a 40-year-period from 1980 to 2019 found that Black Americans were 3.5 times more likely to be killed by police than white Americans (IHME, 2021).

A study by the National Institute of Justice found that about half of police officers surveyed had witnessed colleagues using excessive force on suspects, and about a third had personally used more force than they believed was necessary, while police integrity as a whole was questioned (Stinson et al., 2016).

It is important to note that these statistics likely underestimate the true prevalence of police brutality and excessive use of force, as many incidents go unreported or are not accurately recorded. However, they do provide a glimpse into the scale of these problems and highlight the need for effective solutions to address them.

One stance on this problem is that police use of force should only be exercsed when necessary, and that law enforcement officers should receive extensive training in de-escalation practices and methods of responding to situations with minimal physical force. Another stance is that unconscious bias is a problem that needs to be addressed to curb excessive use of force scenarios (Morrow & Shjarback, 2019).

In addition, it has been argued that independent oversight agencies must be established to ensure that instances of excessive violence by officers will be properly investigated, and if necessary addressed through civilian legal processes (Holliday & Wagstaff, 2022). Furthermore, increased funding for community policing initiatives provides an opportunity for the development of positive relationships between citizens and law enforcement professionals (Jones, 2019). Ultimately, understanding the nuances of the current situation and exploring potential solutions requires ongoing dialogue at all levels in order to promote equity in our communities. That will in turn lead to solutions. So far, the research on this issue has already provided some evidence on which way to go.

Potential Solutions

There are a number of potential solutions that have been proposed to address these issues, including:

Improved training and education: Police officers should receive training on how to de-escalate situations and use force only as a last resort. This could include training in conflict resolution, communication skills, social interaction, and cultural competency (Wolfe et al., 2020).

More effective policies and procedures: Police departments should establish clear policies and procedures governing the use of force, and should ensure that officers are held to account when they violate these policies (Blumberg et al., 2019).

Greater transparency and accountability: Police departments should be more transparent about their use of force policies and procedures, and should make it easier for the public to access information about incidents of police brutality and excessive force (Wood et al., 2020).

Community policing: Community policing approaches that focus on building trust and partnerships between police and the communities they serve can help to reduce tension and improve relationships between police and the public (Doane & Cumberland, 2018).

Independent oversight: Independent oversight bodies, such as civilian review boards or independent investigators, can help to ensure that police are held accountable for their actions and that incidents of police brutality are thoroughly investigated (Headley, 2021).

Moving Forward

Acknowledging the Problem of Police Brutality as a Community

Police brutality and excessive use of force are serious problems that need to be addressed for a number of reasons.

First and foremost, police brutality and excessive use of force violate the rights of individuals and can cause serious physical harm, including injury and death. When police use excessive force, it can have a detrimental impact on the individuals who are subjected to it, as well as their families and communities.

Secondly, police brutality and excessive use of force can undermine trust in the police and erode the relationship between the police and the communities they serve. This is especially true in communities of color, which may have a long history of negative interactions with the police and may be more skeptical of law enforcement.

Finally, police brutality and excessive use of force can have negative impacts on the reputation and credibility of the police, which can make it more difficult for officers to do their jobs effectively and can also undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system more broadly.

In short, addressing police brutality and excessive use of force is important for the well-being and safety of individuals, for building trust and positive relationships between the police and...…in a reasonable and necessary manner.

The first step in addressing police use of force is to introduce greater transparency and accountability measures. Police officers should be required to wear body cameras at all times, and all incidents of force should be recorded and reviewed. Citizens should also be able to file complaints against police officers and have those complaints investigated by an independent body.

Another key part of the solution is strengthening the relationship between police and the communities they serve. This means increasing communication and collaboration between police departments and citizens, so that residents can provide feedback and voice any concerns they may have. Additionally, police departments should be providing more training and education to officers on the proper use of force and the legal requirements for using it.

Additionally, unconscious biases can have a significant impact on how police officers interact with the public, and can contribute to incidents of police brutality and excessive use of force.

To reduce incidents of police brutality, it is important that police officers receive training on unconscious bias and how it can impact their interactions with the public. This training should be mandatory and should be provided as part of initial and ongoing training for all officers.

There are several key components that should be included in unconscious bias training for police:

1. Education: Training should provide officers with a basic understanding of what unconscious bias is, how it can influence behavior, and the ways in which it can impact police interactions with the public.

2. Self-assessment: Training should include self-assessment tools or exercises that allow officers to identify their own biases and understand how they may impact their interactions with the public.

3. Skills development: Training should provide officers with the skills and strategies they need to recognize and address their own biases and to interact with the public in a more fair and unbiased manner.

4. Reinforcement: Training should be reinforced over time through ongoing education and support, to ensure that officers continue to recognize and address their own biases.

It is also important that unconscious bias training be paired with other interventions, such as improved policies and procedures governing the use of force, greater transparency and accountability, and community policing approaches, to ensure that it is effective in reducing incidents of police brutality.

Finally, police departments should be taking a hard look at their policies for use of force and implementing more stringent rules and regulations. This includes creating clear definitions of what constitutes excessive force and instituting punishments for officers who violate these rules.

By taking these steps, police use of force and police brutality can be better controlled and monitored, and citizens will have more trust in the law enforcement system.

Conclusion

Police brutality and excessive use of force is a problem for many reasons. First and foremost, it is a violation of our civil rights and a threat to our safety. Police are supposed to protect and serve our communities, not use excessive force to intimidate and oppress people. Second, it can lead to serious injury and even death. Police misconduct and excessive use of force can lead to physical and emotional trauma, as well as long-term physical and psychological damage. Finally, it undermines public trust in law enforcement, as it makes people feel unsafe and unfairly targeted. This can lead to a lack of cooperation with law enforcement and a sense of distrust and fear in the community. There are several ways to address this problem. One is to require police officers to wear body cams while on duty that record their interactions with the public. This will ensure that any excessive use of force is documented and can be used as evidence in court. Another is to provide training to police officers to recognize and counteract their unconscious biases, which can lead to discrimination and excessive use of force. A third solution is to improve transparency between police departments and the public by releasing data on police stops, use of force, and other interactions. Community Policing can also help by increasing the presence of police in communities to build relationships and trust between police officers and the community. This will help reduce tensions and make police more responsive to the needs of the community. Additionally, de-escalation training could be of some utility, as it would provide training to police officers on de-escalation techniques and tactics to help them resolve conflicts without resorting to excessive use of force. Finally, police departments could allow for civilian oversight,…