NCJ Number
10855
Date Published
1972
Length
354 pages
Annotation
EXAMINATION OF ILLEGAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES (POLICE MALPRACTICE) BASED ON RESEARCH INTO MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED CASES, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICE REFORM.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES INSTANCES AND ISSUES OF FALSE ARREST, ILLEGAL SEARCH AND SEIZURE, COERCED CONFESSION, AND VERBAL AND PHYSICAL POLICE BRUTALITY. SUPPORTING HIS THESIS THAT POLICE OFFICERS REFLECT THE PREJUDICES OF SOCIETY'S DOMINANT ELEMENTS, HE POINTS OUT THAT THE POOR, AND RACIAL AND SOCIAL MINORITIES ARE THE MOST FREQUENT VICTIMS OF THESE ILLEGAL PRACTICES. RELEVANT SUPREME COURT CASES SUCH AS ESCOBEDO, MIRANDA, AND MAPP ARE DISCUSSED, AS WELL AS RECENT ATTEMPTS AT POLICE REVIEW IN PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK CITY. USE OF OMBUDSMEN AND STRONGER CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARDS ARE SUGGESTED AS TWO ALTERNATIVES FOR EFFECTING INTERNAL POLICE REFORM AND CHECKING GROWING PUBLIC ATTITUDES AGAINST POLICEMEN AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE AUTHOR FURTHER URGES THE REDEFINING OF POLICE RESPONSIBILITIES AND GREATER EFFORT AT POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS.