Topic > Police Brutality in the United States and Ways to Stop It

IndexProblem StatementHistorical DevelopmentThe Fourth Amendment and Police BrutalityCausesFuture Public ReactionCurrent Policy on Police Brutality and MisconductAnalysis of Current Policies and AlternativesPolicy Recommendations for Police BrutalityChallenges and feasibility of police reformMaking it possibleIssue StatementPolice brutality occurs when police officers use excessive physical force, such as fatally beating and choking an individual. Excessive force is also verbal assault. The definition of police brutality is different between police and citizens. Citizens and police have different definitions of police brutality. People see police brutality when they are restricted in their freedom of freedom. Police see police brutality in situations where they use emotions to defend themselves from possible attacks by causing pain to the individual with excessive force. Racial minorities suffer the most from police misconduct and brutality that violates their human rights. According to a recent study, Community Attitudes Toward Police Brutality found that 50% of Black respondents reported police brutality in their community. This is more than double the rate reported by white respondents. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay According to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, people of color, women, and the poor have disproportionately reported police brutality. Police brutality is the result of several goals to reduce crime rates across the country and this has led some police officers to use their authority to override the rights of the individual. As a result, communities live in fear of the police instead of seeing them as protectors. The recent case of police brutality occurred in Ferguson, where black people felt targeted because a white police officer shot a young, unarmed black man. Many people believe there was police misconduct in this case. The Michael Brown case is a tragedy because a police officer used excessive force that resulted in death. Current policies influence police training by ensuring that police officers are not justified in shooting an unarmed individual. They should not consider certain groups in society as enemies. They should serve the public interest for there to be order and stability, as well as fair application of the law. Police training requires new police officers to gain strong interpersonal skills, as well as have knowledge of crisis counseling and intervention and be able to de-escalate situations. During police training courses, these topics are not given emphasis. Even though police receive training, there is a difference in how they behave when they are on the job. Police misconduct is prevalent in New York City, as well as other major cities. Officers receive a promotion instead of dismissal from their jobs if they file a complaint. Police officers also receive medals for the number of complaints they receive for reports of police misconduct. The New York City Police Department does not take police misconduct seriously and this results in a large number of lawsuits. In addition to New York City, Los Angeles had a Rodney King case. This case had a dramatic impact on public perception of the LAPD due tothe level of misconduct. African Americans and Hispanics' approval of the LAPD dropped dramatically. The NYPD is aggressive, which leads to community distrust and resentment. The NYPD is so aggressive that it led Amnesty International to release a report alleging that the NYPD has committed human rights abuses. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 5, the New York City Police Department violated the provision that “No person shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.” However, it is rare for an officer to deny wrongdoing. The Bell case proved different. One of the cops who shot Bell pleaded guilty in the NYPD trial. Officer Isanora pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges and avoided criminal conviction. During the department's hearing, attorneys for Isanora and Officer Carey determined that they had committed a wrongful death by shooting Bell 50 times. The consequence Isanora faces is the loss of his job from the police department and Officer Carey will face a 30-day suspension for his role in the shooting. Al Sharpton said Isanora's actions were outside police guidelines. He believed it was unfair for Officer Michael Oliver and Detective Cooper to negotiate their retirement and be able to receive full pensions despite their crime. Al Sharpton believes they should not be given any deals because they were part of a murder. Police brutality negatively impacts the economy due to unnecessary lawsuits. Police departments usually ignore abuses committed by police officers. The city, not the police department or officer, pays for the settlements. When there is a civil case, the Municipality always pays the victims; however, the officers who committed these crimes go unpunished and this does not affect their performance ratings. New York City and Los Angeles have high costs due to high rates of police brutality. There is currently one type of policy to stop police brutality and that is the zero tolerance policy. The zero tolerance policy aims to pay attention to the quality of life in a city. With innovations in policing practices, the zero-tolerance policy has had the greatest effect in reducing crime, even as it has led to aggressive policing. A community policing strategy is another way to stop police brutality because it allows for collaboration between police and communities. For example, when people took part in a survey it was found that they had a positive attitude towards the police because of community policing. Historical Development Throughout the history of the United States, police brutality has been widespread. Police brutality occurs mostly during times of civil unrest such as protests, cultural events, or crime control. For example, in the 1950s an event known as “Bloody Christmas” occurred in Los Angeles (Escobar, 2003). On Christmas Eve, seven young people argued with police officers who then brutally attacked them after arresting them on charges. Five of the seven men were of Mexican descent. When the public learned of the unusual punishment, it sparked a public demand for justice. One of the first incidents reported as police misconduct occurred in 1958 to Mr. James Monroe who was suspected in the deaths of six black men. Thirteen officers along with the lead detective, rushed to Monroe's home at 5:48 am, broke into his home without a warrant,treated Monroe and his wife unfairly during the search of their home and made them both stand in their home, naked, while the officers' search proceeded. Monroe was subsequently arrested and detained for 10 hours during interrogation without any charges, received no phone calls and was denied a lawyer. As a result, Monroe sued each officer and the city of Chicago under a code derived from the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 for violations of his Fourteenth Amendment rights. The law provides a remedy in favor of individuals deprived of constitutional rights due to the abuse of his position by an official. Within the limits of the Civil Rights Act, the court dismissed the complaint. Although Monroe appealed, the Supreme Court agreed with the previous decision. This was just the beginning of a long line of cases depicting the injustice of police officers using excessive force. The Fourth Amendment and police brutality The Fourth Amendment recognizes the right to unjust search and seizure and has adapted over time as necessary. Its current use is against undisciplined law enforcement officers who violate a person's constitutional rights. There is currently a divided opinion on the choice of amendment, when presenting the case in court, on whether to use the Fourth Amendment or the Fourteenth Amendment when requesting to receive a preferred verdict. For example, in the case of Snyder and Austin the suspects suffered unnecessary use of force even though they cooperated (Fourth Amendment - US Constitution). Note 5- The Eighth Amendment and US Code 42 § 1983 are other laws that protect victims of police brutality in America. The 5-8th Amendment annotation covers cruel and unusual punishment and is under consideration as it relates to the protection of victims of police brutality. This focuses on the punishment prescribed by law when interrogating a suspect (8th Amendment - US Constitution). 42 US Code 1983 deals with civil actions for deprivation of rights. This civil code allows individuals who have been physically abused by government actors to sue in court for damages. (The Civil Rights Act of 1871 (42 USC § 1983)). Causes There are multiple interpretations of excessive use of force by the police. Reaction against political repression to stabilize order within the crowd, excessive force is used to maintain a peaceful environment. Lower class people are the primary targets of police brutality. These groups are individuals who commit minor crimes. Police use force to keep lower class people under control, especially when they are out of place at a disorderly crime scene. They are seen as likely suspects due to their appearance. As the situation worsens, police brutality becomes frequent when there is a common challenge against the police. Police brutality occurs during political repression. When officers use excessive force, problems arise from the public. Future Public Reaction The public will increasingly resist effective action by government actors to speak out against injustices. Government actors swore to protect citizens and be effective representatives of the law, they shamed law enforcement. Injustice will reach a breaking point that public opinion will no longer tolerate. If the cases remain unsolved, there will be no turning point. Currently, activist groups and organizations are trying their best to solve the cases. For everyfew addressed, dozens of others are not addressed in the community. Among recent efforts, change.org is calling for action against police officers. A letter will be sent to Attorney General Eric Holden, from this group calling for an investigation into "national action against police brutality." it's about policing the police for misconduct and brutality. While these laws are in place, police officers are immune from punishment for their actions. Based on numerous newspaper publications, it appears that police accountability for misconduct is nonexistent. In Habersham County, Georgia, officers have not been charged, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Dansky states that “yesterday, a grand jury in Habersham County, Georgia, decided not to bring charges against police officers who tossed a flash-bang grenade into the home of Bounkham Phonesavanh, known affectionately as “Baby Bou Bou.” The blast left a hole in the then 19-year-old’s chest, exposing his rib, and nearly ripped his nose off his face (Dansky, 2014).” This is one example among dozens of cases in which the officers perpetrating the crimes were released without penalty or severe discipline. The officers were immune from the consequences of their actions. The federal government steps in to handle investigations when there is an injustice. The investigation involves ascertaining the human rights violations committed by the agents (Baez, 2014). Aside from the cases under consideration, most incidents of brutality go unreported across the country. These government actors are faced with no to the minimum justice mandated to protect citizens. Senator Raskin of Montgomery County states, “It is a scandal that there are so many cases in Baltimore…The reason we have government is to protect people from arbitrary violence (Puente, 2014).” Indeed, Baltimore officials have called for harsher sanctions for suspected officers (Fuentes, 2014). Analysis of Current Policies and Alternatives The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution that protects against unreasonable searches and seizures; the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution , which includes the due process and equal protection clauses; the Civil Rights Act of 1871; and the Federal Tort Claims Act are laws intended to protect against police brutality. The Civil Rights Act evolved into a landmark U.S. law in cases of brutality. However, the laws have not prevented the occurrence of crimes. Many cases of police brutality go unreported. Most of the reported cases are from African Americans or Hispanics. There is currently great distrust in the community towards the police Many people of color, particularly young African American males, make up the majority of the population who are victims of police brutality. Media coverage of hostility and riots among people of color and among police shows atrocious behavior that leads to tension and unease in many communities. There are cases of police brutality against victims who are not of color. For example, in 2011 members of California's Fullerton Police Department beat to death Kelly Thomas, a 37-year-old homeless Caucasian man with schizophrenia. In 2008, Brian Sterner, a quadriplegic, was thrown from his wheelchair while being cited for an alleged traffic violation at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office jail facility in Florida in 2008. Both of these individuals they suffered due to police misconduct. a toll on a city's budget, as the costs of lawsuits and settlements add up. TheVictims of police misconduct seek damages as a meaningful restitution mechanism. However, lawsuits against police rarely lead to millions in compensation for victims and are difficult to win. They represent only a small number of police misconduct complaints. Additionally, the costs of settlements and judgments to victims often exclude fees paid to attorneys representing the city. In many cases, the real costs are higher. According to a 2012 report from the NYC Comptroller's Office, it states that the city paid $185.6 million in claims for the 2011 fiscal year (a 35 percent increase from the previous year, which amounted to $137.3 million of dollars). statements). Fiscal year 2011 saw “an all-time high of 8,882 claims filed” against the NYPD, with a 55 percent increase in claims against the NYPD over the past five years. Recent data shows that the NYPD has paid $428 million in settlements over the past five years, averaging $33,875 per closed case, with the highest value being $11 million. However, costs on actual policies and lawsuits vary from place to place for various reasons. First, some cities have set damage limits that have a huge impact on the final reported figures. Second, some agreements have terms that are unknown or sealed depending on state open records laws and may not be accessible to the press. Third, the city attorney's strategies also affect the numbers when fighting lawsuits or quick fixes. A settlement demonstrates an admission of wrongdoing or the city's determination that it would be costly to take the case to court. Finally, the availability and willingness of lawyers to take these legal actions also has an impact. In theory, the cost of these lawsuits should inspire better oversight and policing. Current police brutality and misconduct policies have influenced how police officers now receive training. Over the past few decades, police training has become more standardized, professionalized, and militarized. Various police departments across America are implementing body cameras and training officers in mental health awareness. Other departments have formulated rules limiting police use of force and preventative policing that requires oversight of officers and discipline of those who violate department standards. A growing number of cities are developing early warning systems to identify officers with a high rate of citizen complaints. Municipal police tend to be more aggressive, perhaps due to common obstacles in accountability for police abuses. It is difficult to get information about the case except when there is a prosecutor. The fourteen major cities with actively aggressive policing are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Providence, San Francisco, and Washington. DCMedia is influencing governments under pressure and social problems. The media have become a powerful tool of public control. The ubiquitous use of social media reveals governments' reliance on old tactics. Politicians can no longer rely on media censorship, public pressure and overt force. Incidents of police brutality demonstrate harsh responses to disperse angry crowds. Governments need new policies to respond to protests, riots and other forms of public protest and it is in their interests to develop newinternational standards. However, social media alone cannot prevent police brutality; more needs to be done to regulate the legitimate use of force in democratic societies. Federal leaders, such as Congress and the executive branch, have the power to create and implement laws and policies. However, when it comes to police brutality, there are parties that influence sentences. Judges often give light sentences to police officers convicted of brutality because of the damage it causes to their careers. Police brutality has a political effect. Following the death of Michael Brown, politicians at nearly every level of government spoke out about police use of force in Ferguson, Missouri. President Obama said it is time to reflect on past events and find a way to unite in the future. He also stressed that “there is never an excuse” for violence against police officers, or “for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests.” Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon promised he would implement "operational changes" for law enforcement, promised residents would "see a different tone" and announced that the State Highway Patrol would lead safety operations from here on. argued that “weapons of war have no place on our streets”; but local police are often equipped with weapons powerful enough to conquer a small town. Police use of SWAT teams has increased 1,500 percent over the past two decades. Many police departments have cultivated an “us versus them” mentality towards the public they serve. Possession of these weapons does not cause misconduct, but some police officers abuse their authority and abuse the weapons they have been issued. The Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) is a conservative, non-profit, nonpartisan, gun rights corporation based in Springfield, Virginia. which supports law enforcement. Its members are made up of active duty and retired law enforcement officers, crime victims and other civilians. The educationally and politically active organization explains and defends police practices. Includes use of force by police, supports and expands federal legislation to allow off-duty and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed weapons, supports and promotes self-defense, strengthens laws to punish criminals violent and deter crime, supports the death penalty, and exposes and opposes efforts to support "gun control" as effective "crime control." Groups and organizations such as The National Police Accountability Project (NPAP), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), The Coalition Against Police Brutality (CAPB), and the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) work to end police abuses of authority through action coordinated legal action, public education and support for victims fighting police misconduct. Policy Recommendations for Police Brutality First, let us know that it will be impossible to completely eliminate police brutality because it is a multidimensional problem. However, we can implement specific policies that will discourage this form of police misconduct, and our strategy team has developed some possible recommendations called the Three-Point Plan. As police brutality becomes more widespread, especially through the influence of media coverage, law enforcement officials equipped with body cameras, we must understand that this recommendation is twofold. First, it guarantees procedural justice, that is, “fairness in trials that.