NCJ Number
57163
Editor(s)
R N BRENNER,
M KRAVITZ
Date Published
1979
Length
111 pages
Annotation
PAPERS GIVEN AT THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES (NOBLE) WORKSHOP ON POLICE USE OF DEADLY FORCE ARE PRESENTED, AS WELL AS STATEMENTS BY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS AND A LITERATURE REVIEW.
Abstract
THE WORKSHOP, SPONSORED BY THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, BEGINS WITH A DESCRIPTION OF NOBLE AND WITH PRESENTATIONS OF 11 RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING THE RESTRICTION AND CONTROL OF POLICE AGENCY POLICY ON THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE. THE PAPERS FROM THE NOBLE CONFERENCE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE FROM SEVERAL PERSPECTIVES. THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BLACK LAWYERS MAINTAINS THAT POLICE LAWLESSNESS IS WIDESPREAD AND FALLS PARTICULARLY ON BLACK CITIZENS (THIS INCLUDES BEATINGS, ILLEGAL SEARCHES, HARASSMENT, AND MURDER ON THE STREET); HE PROPOSES STRATEGIES FOR INVOLVING CITIZENS IN POLICE DISCIPLINARY AND REVIEW BOARD MECHANISMS. A CLERGYMAN DISCUSSES HOW FEAR OF CRIME IN THE WHITE COMMUNITY IN THE U.S. CREATES WHITE SUPPORT FOR MINIMAL REGULATION OF POLICE USE OF DEADLY FORCE AND INCREASES THE EXISTING STRAINS IN BLACK-WHITE RELATIONS. A POLICE CHIEF FROM WASHINGTON STATE LINKS POLICE POLICY ON DEADLY FORCE TO OLD ENGLISH COMMON LAW, RECOMMENDS REVISION OF SUCH POLICIES, AND CALLS FOR A CHANGE IN POLICE AUTHORITARIAN ATTITUDES, BEGINNING WITH TOP MANAGEMENT. TWO ADDITIONAL PAPERS ADDRESS THE NEED FOR CLEAR, UNAMBIGUOUS POLICE POLICY WHICH SETS SPECIFIC MINIMUM LIMITS ON THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE. A FINAL PAPER REVIEWS STUDIES CONDUCTED IN THE 1970'S WHICH REFUTE THE BELIEF THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS AN EXTREMELY PERILOUS OCCUPATION AND SHOW THAT BLACKS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN WHITES TO BE KILLED BY POLICE. THE CONCERNS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN STATEMENTS BY THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL AND TWO OTHER OFFICIALS WHO DISCUSS DEADLY FORCE AND CITE RESEARCH PRIORITIES. THE FINAL SECTION IS A LITERATURE REVIEW BY POLICE FOUNDATION STAFF THAT SUMMARIZES 15 MAJOR RESEARCH STUDIES. THE STUDIES CONCUR THAT BLACKS AND HISPANICS ARE FATAL VICTIMS OF POLICE SHOOTINGS IN EXCESS OF THEIR PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION. THE STUDIES FOUND THAT LEGAL ACTION IS USUALLY NOT TAKEN AGAINST POLICE IN SHOOTING INCIDENTS AND RESTRICTIVE POLICIES ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG ENFORCEMENT ARE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THE NUMBER OF POLICE SHOOTINGS. REFERENCES AND AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ON POLICE USE OF DEADLY FORCE ARE PROVIDED.