Evaluating Citizen Complaints Against the Police (From Critical Issues in Policing: Contemporary Readings, P 271-285, 1989, Roger G Dunham and Geoffrey P Alpert, eds. -- See NCJ-114674)

• NCJ Number: 114681
• Author(s): A E Wagner; S H Decker
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Waveland Press, Inc.
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis of the nature and operation of the process for making complaints against the police concludes that the current process lacks a procedure for dealing with allegations in a way that guarantees both due process for officers and accountability to the public.

Abstract

The ambiguous nature of the police role leads naturally to role conflict both within the individual officer and between the police and the public. Specific abuses of the use of force are defined in State laws, coupled with department regulations, although citizens also complain about verbal abuse, harassment, and other abuses. Making a complaint often takes a large amount of effort, and citizens may decide not to complain because of fear of reprisals, apathy, or other factors. Documents published by the United States Civil Rights Commission, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Police Executive Research Forum have recommended the use of formal approaches for dealing with complaints. However, police and citizens appear to want different structures for dealing with complaints. Evidence also indicates that the structure, responsibility, jurisdiction, and staffing of review boards have a significant impact on their decisions. The level of citizen involvement is the main factor distinguishing the several procedures now in use in police department. The most common form excludes citizens entirely, although such an approach loses credibility with both the police and the citizens. Involving citizens while preserving the ability of the police to monitor themselves is essential. Footnote and 27 references.