NCJ Number
75060
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Current measures taken by police departments nationwide to prevent and combat police brutality are described.
Abstract
In view of numerous incidents of police brutality, police departments are scrutinizing their methods and trying new approaches to the brutality problem. For instance, the Houston Police Department has set up its first internal affairs division to examine complaints about police conduct. In addition, restrictions have been placed on high-speed chases, which accounted for many past brutality charges. Responding to charges that brutality is often racially motivated, police in other cities are trying to hire more minority officers; thus, officers with Cuban backgrounds in Miami are becoming more frequent and a new campaign reaches out to the city's growing Haitian population. Though critics claim that recent programs against brutality handcuff the police and pave the way for crime waves, the changes also have brought about positive results. Since black Mayor Maynard Jackson of Atlanta clamped down on police brutality, only 3 people have been killed by the police as compared to 17 persons in 1973 before his election. Since the Police Chief of Jackson, Miss., moved the desk where people are accused of breaking the law to a busy basement area (i.e., more into public view) only 2 brutality charges in 1,600 arrests have been logged; previously, the department averaged 2 complaints for every 100 arrests. To further improve police-community relations, many departments have initiated decisive action to respond to citizen complaints about vandalism, auto theft, loitering, and prostitution. One footnote is included.