Challenges to Effective Policing

Challenges to Effective Policing

© 2002 Wadsworth Publishing Co.

Chapter 7Introduction to Criminal Justice 2003:

A Microsoft® PowerPoint® Tool

Slides prepared by:Larry Bassi

SUNY Brockport

Chapter 7Introduction to Criminal Justice 2003:

A Microsoft® PowerPoint® Tool

Slides prepared by:Larry Bassi

SUNY Brockport

Common Minimum Requirements for Police

Employment

Citizenship

Driver’s LicenseDriver’s LicenseNo Felony Conviction No Felony Conviction

Background Check of Police Applicants

Background Check of Police Applicants

Police administrators would be remiss if they did not attempt to determine if police applicants had something in their background that would render them unfit for police service. Background checks generally entail:

Police administrators would be remiss if they did not attempt to determine if police applicants had something in their background that would render them unfit for police service. Background checks generally entail:

Drug testsReview of applicants records regarding:

MilitaryDrivingCredit

Interviews with:Spouses (even ex-spouses)Previous employersOthers as determined appropriate to background findings

Formal police records check(s) including an FBI file inquiry.

Becoming a Police OfficerBecoming a Police Officer

Testing Police ApplicantsTesting Police ApplicantsA Written Exam that attempts to measurethe applicant’s ability to comprehend certainsituations or process information.

A Written Exam that attempts to measurethe applicant’s ability to comprehend certainsituations or process information.

Psychological Exams that attempt toassess if an applicant’s personality issuited to the rigors of police work.

Psychological Exams that attempt toassess if an applicant’s personality issuited to the rigors of police work.

Physical Agility Exams that assess basic strength and endurance and job related skills that are necessary for the day-to-day operations of a police officer.

Physical Agility Exams that assess basic strength and endurance and job related skills that are necessary for the day-to-day operations of a police officer.

The Physical Agility Exam for the Henrico County, Virginia, Division of

Police

The Physical Agility Exam for the Henrico County, Virginia, Division of

Police

• Some believe there are numerous advantages:– Inculcates

responsibility

– Helps communication

– Helps coping with stress

– Helps handle difficult situations

Education and the PoliceEducation and the Police

• Others believe empirical research does not prove advantages exist:– Educated police are

not superior as seen from the client point of view.

– Fewer citizen complaints but more internal complaints.

• Others believe empirical research does not prove advantages exist:– Educated police are

not superior as seen from the client point of view.

– Fewer citizen complaints but more internal complaints.

The Police AcademyThe Police Academy

•Law of arrest, search, seizure and interrogation•Weapons use•Crime scene preservation•Witness interviewing•First aid•Report writing•Physical training and more ….

•Law of arrest, search, seizure and interrogation•Weapons use•Crime scene preservation•Witness interviewing•First aid•Report writing•Physical training and more ….

Curriculum at the University of Maryland Police Academy

Curriculum at the University of Maryland Police Academy

Field TrainingField Training• Generally comes after the

academy.• Rookies teamed with

more seasoned officers.• Veterans help teach

techniques.• Recruits are further socialized

into the subculture.

• Generally comes after the academy.

• Rookies teamed with more seasoned officers.

• Veterans help teach techniques.

• Recruits are further socialized into the subculture.

Only a police officer canunderstand the “true”nature of police work.

Only a police officer canunderstand the “true”nature of police work.

The courts have placed The courts have placed too many restrictions on too many restrictions on

the police. To fight the police. To fight crime police may be crime police may be

forced to bend orforced to bend orbreak the break the

law law

The publicThe publicis fickle when itis fickle when itcomes to police work.comes to police work.They are quick to They are quick to criticize unless they arecriticize unless they arethe ones who need help.the ones who need help.

Loyalty is thehighest virtue among

police officers becauseeveryone else is out

to get them .

Thepolice officeris the ONLYREAL CRIME

FIGHTER!

Thepolice officeris the ONLYREAL CRIME

FIGHTER!

Five Basic Values of Police SubculturesFive Basic Values of Police Subcultures

The “Blue Wall of Silence”a.k.a. The Code

The core values of the policesubculture separates them from

the civilians that they are meant to protect!

The core values of the policesubculture separates them from

the civilians that they are meant to protect!

Police CynicismPolice Cynicism

A cynic is someonewho universally

distrusts human motives and expects

nothing but the worst in

human behavior.

Police cynicism is

characterized byrejection of the

ideals of truth andjustice - the veryvalues that an

officer is sworn to uphold

High 7068666462605856545250484644

Low 42

High 7068666462605856545250484644

Low 42

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 202 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

42.642.6 * Niederhoffer, A. (1967) Behind the Shied: The Police in Urban Society.* Niederhoffer, A. (1967) Behind the Shied: The Police in Urban Society.

CY

NIC

ISM

SC

ALE

CY

NIC

ISM

SC

ALE

TIME ON THE JOB IN YEARSTIME ON THE JOB IN YEARS

Police Cynicism and Time on the Job*

Police Cynicism and Time on the Job*

Constant fearof becominga victim of

violent crime

Exposure toviolent

crime and itsvictims

Need to comply with

the law in nearly every

job action.

Police StressorsPolice Stressors

Lack ofcommunity

support

Negativepolicemedia

coverage

The Awareness SpectrumThe Awareness Spectrum

The Effects of StressThe Effects of Stress

•Alcoholism•Alcoholism

•Divorce•Divorce

•Depression orSuicide

•Depression orSuicide

•Violence•Violence•PTSD•PTSD

When is Police Use of Force OK?When is Police Use of Force OK?

• To prevent an escape

• To retake a suspect after an escape attempt

• To overcome an offender’s resistance to a lawful arrest

• To protect the officer from bodily harm

• To protect the suspect, other persons, or property from harm

The Use of Force by Police Against SuspectsThe Use of Force by Police Against Suspects

Type of Force UsedPercentage of Persons

Reporting Type of Force

Pushed or grabbed without causing pain 36.9 %

Pushed or grabbed with causing pain 35.2%

Kicked or hit 10.2%

Sprayed chemical/pepper spray 05.4%

Point a gun 15.3%

Other 02.3%

N = 421,714 people who reported forceful behavior on the partof police in 1999. 22.5% said force was threatened but not used.

Deadly ForceDeadly Force

Tennessee v. Garner (1985) When the suspect poses no immediate threat to the officer and no threat to others, the use of deadly force is unjustified….It is not better that all felony suspects die than that they escape.

Tennessee v. Garner (1985) When the suspect poses no immediate threat to the officer and no threat to others, the use of deadly force is unjustified….It is not better that all felony suspects die than that they escape.

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s Use of Force Model

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s Use of Force Model

VerbalCommands

ContactControls

ComplianceTechniques

DefensiveTactics

Compliant(Cooperative)

Resistant(Passive)

Resistant(Active)

Assaultive(Body Harm)

AssaultiveSerious Body Harm

I

II

III

V

IV

DeadlyForce

Reasonable Officer’sPerception

Reasonable Officer’sResponse

EnforcementElectives

Types of Police CorruptionTypes of Police Corruption

BriberyBribery

Money or otherforms of paymentfor favors

Money or otherforms of paymentfor favors

Mooching Mooching

Free “gifts” forfavorabletreatment

Free “gifts” forfavorabletreatment

ShakedownsShakedowns

Attempts to coerce money or goods froma citizen or criminal

Attempts to coerce money or goods froma citizen or criminal

Three Levels of CorruptionThree Levels of Corruption

RottenApples

andRotten

Pockets

PervasiveBut Not

Organized

Pervasiveand

Organized

Causes of Police Corruptions

Causes of Police Corruptions

Lack ofpropertraining

Lack ofsupervision

Exorbitantmoney that

can bemade

Insulatingeffects of the

policesubculture

Causes of Police Corruption

The Police

Code of Conduct

The Police

Code of Conduct

Ethical dilemmas aresituations where officers:

•Do not know rightcourse of action

•Have difficulty doing whatis considered right

•Find the wrong choicetempting

Ethical dilemmas aresituations where officers:

•Do not know rightcourse of action

•Have difficulty doing whatis considered right

•Find the wrong choicetempting

Honesty

Loyalty Duty

Discretion

Four Categories of Ethical DilemmasFour Categories of Ethical Dilemmas

Police Accountability SystemsPolice Accountability Systems

Internal Affairs InvestigationInternal Affairs Investigation

Civil LiabilityCivil Liability

Civilian Review BoardsCivilian Review Boards

The Internal Review ProcessThe Internal Review Process

Stages in an Internal InvestigationStages in an Internal Investigation

Intake Investigation Deliberation Disposition

Intake Investigation Deliberation Disposition

§ 1983 Violations§ 1983 Violations

Every person who, under color of any statute,ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory, subjects, or causes tobe subjected, any citizen of the United States

or other persons within the jurisdiction thereofto the deprivation of any rights, privileges, orimmunities secured by the Constitution and

laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper

proceeding for redress.Title 42, United States Code

Most Internal Affairs UnitInvestigations Concern:

Most Internal Affairs UnitInvestigations Concern:

• Sexual harassment

• Substance abuse

• Misuse of physical force

• Breaking department rules.

• Sexual harassment

• Substance abuse

• Misuse of physical force

• Breaking department rules.

Most police corruption is enhanced byofficers’ discretion and low visibility.Most police corruption is enhanced byofficers’ discretion and low visibility.

Most Common § 1983 Violations

Most Common § 1983 Violations

FalseArrestFalseArrest

WrongfulDeath

WrongfulDeath

NegligenceNegligenceAssault

andBattery

Assaultand

Battery

Police ImmunityPolice Immunity

Honest, well-intentioned police officers need enoughlegal protection to do theirjob. To what extent should they be immune fromlegal responsibility for theirbehavior? How would one make distinctions between types of behavior?

Honest, well-intentioned police officers need enoughlegal protection to do theirjob. To what extent should they be immune fromlegal responsibility for theirbehavior? How would one make distinctions between types of behavior?

African Americans Perceptions of the Criminal Justice System

African Americans Perceptions of the Criminal Justice System

87% of a recent poll indicatedthey felt the criminal justice system does not treat all people equally.

87% of a recent poll indicatedthey felt the criminal justice system does not treat all people equally.

61% indicated specificallythat minorities do not get a “fair shake.”

61% indicated specificallythat minorities do not get a “fair shake.”

On-the-job Issues Often Faced by Women Police Officers

On-the-job Issues Often Faced by Women Police Officers

Lack of gender private facilities like showers and rest rooms

Subject to inappropriate, derogatory and degrading commentsof a sexual nature by male officers

Inappropriate touching by otherofficers

Inadequate acceptance and supportin carrying out their field duties

Discrimination in promotions

1987 1990 1983 1997

12

0-

2-

4-

6-

8-

10-

Women AfricanAmericans

HispanicAmericans

Percent of Local Police ForcePercent of Local Police Force

Female Police

Officers Still Facing

Bias and Harassment

Female Police

Officers Still Facing

Bias and Harassment

Media Coverage of PolicingMedia Coverage of Policing

Because reporters rely on police sources for popular stories, they are reluctant to

“bite the hand that feeds them.

Because the media tends to cover the most glamorous crimes, police are often shown

in their best light.

Law andOrder

TV

Law andOrder

TV

Given that viewers tend to equate what they see on television with reality, it can be assumed that

these law and order shows offer a sense of security to those who

watch them.