NCJ Number
185739
Journal
Policing Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: 2000 Pages: 374-380
Editor(s)
Lawrence F. Travis III
Date Published
2000
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The issue of police brutality appears to be a recurring topic of discussion and research related to policing, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Abstract
Many criteria have been used by police scientists to identify various types of police brutality as a specific form of police misconduct: unnecessary violence, unjustified use of force, use of excessive force, excessive use of force, and physical or verbal brutality. In an analysis of differences between police brutality and police torture, both brutality and torture are viewed as cruel and violent behavior, although police officers have the authority to be brutal since they have the right to use force in some circumstances. Police torture is a distinctive category of police brutality and is committed when police use force to achieve a task or a design, most frequently to extort confessions or to induce compliance. Police torture is practiced on persons in police custody or under police control. Torture in general and police torture as an act belong to the category of international crimes, and making a distinction between police brutality and police torture is necessary because they differ from each other in their sources and motivations. Reasons for police brutality are discussed, along with the need for police accountability and oversight. 7 references and 2 notes