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Criminology and the Effects of Police Brutality


The Christopher Commission (1991) revealed that brutality shows there is a troubled relationship between the police and the community they are supposed to serve. One of such problems in the society however are riots. Many riots have been caused by the public's reactions concerning the misuse of force by the police, from the Chicago riot of 1919, to the Los Angeles riots following the trial of police officers in the Rodney King incidence. It is not news how the Rodney King incident sparked dramatic incidents on the streets of Los Angeles in the early 1990's. While today we may not have drastic reactions like this, police brutality still continues today. In fact according to some statistics, cases of excessive force by law enforcement agencies have increased dramatically since 2001 (USA Today). .
             Also, the use of excessive force by the police reduces public confidence in the police and depresses officer morale (Langworthy and Travis 1994). When a police officer or the entire police force as a whole becomes known for abusing of authority, it reduces public trust in force. Once the public loses faith in their law enforcement agencies, the public is inclined to withhold information from the officers. It has been found that perceptions of police brutality are part of the main reasons citizen's distrust and complain about the police. This drastically limits the effectiveness of the police force when witness statements or public assistance that would help them to solve crimes are not available. .
             Furthermore, the police force's reputation can be damaged through the demeanor of its officers (Son et al. 1997). Improprieties associated with abuse of authority may also have negative organizational ramifications. It could threaten continuity of leadership" (Kelling, Wasserman, and Williams 1988), since the police force will be at risk public scrutiny and outside interference. The police chief will be at risk of losing his or her job.


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