NCJ Number
54025
Journal
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WATCH Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 2-5,8
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
IN A NEWSLETTER ARTICLE BY THE COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC JUSTICE, 'POLICING THE POLICE' IS SEEN AS A PRESSING CHALLENGE FOR THE PRESIDENT AND ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Abstract
THE ARTICLE PRESENTS AN OVERVIEW OF POLICE BRUTALITY AND THE FEDERAL RESPONSE. OUT OF DEEP CONCERN OVER THE MOUNTING NUMBER OF POLICE BRUTALITY COMPLAINTS, THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS CURRENTLY IS TAKING TESTIMONY, HOLDING HEARINGS, AND OTHERWISE INVESTIGATING NATIONWIDE POLICE BRUTALITY COMPLAINTS. HOWEVER, THE COMMISSION LACKS ENFORCEMENT OR REGULATORY POWERS. IN PHILADELPHIA, THE FEDERALLY-FUNDED PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CENTER INVESTIGATED 436 POLICE-ABUSE COMPLAINTS IN 1976, OVER HALF INVOLVING PHYSICAL INJURY AND THE MAJORITY FROM BLACK CITIZENS. THE CENTER DOCUMENTED 69 OF THESE COMPLAINTS AND SUBMITTED THEM TO THE POLICE COMMISSIONER, WHO TOOK ACTION AGAINST ONE OFFICER BY SUSPENDING HIM FOR 1 DAY. THE 1977 SITUTATION IS REPRESENTED AS PARALLEL TO THAT OF 1976, WITH 40 ALLEGED BRUTALITY CASES NOW BEING REVIEWED BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND ONE SUCCESSFUL FEDERAL PROSECUTION THUS FAR. THE SITUTATION IN HOUSTON IS CITED WHEREIN FOUR RECENT CASES AROUSED MEXICAN AMERICAN LEADERS TO DEMAND FEDERAL INTERVENTION. IN LOS ANGELES THE SHREDDING OF POLICE BRUTALITY RECORDS AS ADVISED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SPURRED LEGISLATIVE ACTION IN CALIFORNIA TO ESTABLISH A SEPARATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE TO HANDLE POLICE BRUTALITY CASES. UNDER ATTORNEY GENERAL BELL, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN STRENGTHENING THE FEDERAL ROLE BY FOLLOWING A NEW POLICY OF DUAL PROSECUTION, WHEREBY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT STEPS IN TO SUPERCEDE STATE ACTION IF THE STATE IS PROVEN INADEQUATE. ALSO, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE FBI, TO COUNTERACT ITS ALLEGED FORMER READINESS TO ACCEPT THE POLICE VERSION OF BRUTALITY CASES, EMPLOY FBI INVESTIGATORS FROM OUTSIDE THE LOCALITY INVOLVED. OTHER GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION METHODS INCLUDE CUTTING OFF LEAA FUNDS, INITIATING A CIVIL SUIT ON BEHALF OF THE VICTIM, AND CONVENING A WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON DOMESTIC HUMAN RIGHTS. IN CONTRAST TO ALL THESE REMEDIAL MEASURES, A NEW STRINGENCY MOVE BY THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (OMB) IS ENDEAVORING TO ABOLISH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE, WHICH MEDIATES RACIAL AND ETHNIC CONFLICT AND WHICH COULD REFORM SUCH POLICE PRACTICES AS USING DEADLY FORCE TO ARREST ANY FELONY SUSPECT AND USING EXPANDING BULLETS. IF OMB SUCCEEDS, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, ONLY BEGINNING TO EXERT PRESSURE ON LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, WILL BE STYMIED BY THESE BUDGET CUTS. (FCW)