Early Identification of Police Brutality and Misconduct: The Metro-Dade Police Department Model (From Human Resources in Criminal Justice, P 53-59, 1994, Diane L. Zahm, Cindy Stiff, et al, ed. - See NCJ-153059)

• NCJ Number: 153064
• Author(s): B Charette
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis of a formal tracking system established by the Metro-Dade Police Department in Miami to identify police misconduct and police brutality concludes that the creation of an Early Identification System (EIS) has acted as a deterrent to police misconduct.

Abstract

The department established the system in 1981 to give management the opportunity to review records to find police officers who have used force enough times to indicate a pattern and then to take action to determine the cause and offer assistance or specialized training to prevent future incidents. Data from the program indicate that it had a significant impact on the frequency of incidents involving the use of force and on complaint ratios from 1981 to 1992. The number of police personnel identified per reporting quarter decreased sharply after the first four reporting quarters. This trend continued for the next 11 years, while the department increased its sworn personnel by 96 percent. Findings indicated that the EIS is an innovative and proactive administrative tool that can be used to manage a serious issue confronting police executives throughout the country. 6 references (Author abstract modified)