NCJ Number
3101
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 36 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1969) Pages: 12 & 14-17
Date Published
1969
Length
5 pages
Annotation
CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF OMBUDSMAN CONSIDERED AS A POSSIBLE METHOD OF EXTERNAL REVIEW OF POLICE MISCONDUCT AND AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARDS.
Abstract
THE OFFICE IS A DEVICE BY WHICH CITIZENS CAN EXERCISE CONTROL OVER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. AS CONCEIVED IN SWEDEN, AS OMBUDSMAN IS A PERSON OF HIGH PRESTIGE WHOSE JOB IS TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS FROM PRIVATE CITIZENS. THE ADVANTAGE OF A SINGLE-EXECUTIVE TYPE OF OMBUDSMAN IS HIS ABILITY TO CURB POLICE ABUSE THROUGH PRIVATE CONVERSATION AND PERSUASION. AS A LAST RESORT HE WOULD PUBLISH HIS FINDINGS OF MISCONDUCT WHEN AN AGENCY REFUSES TO ADOPT HIS SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS. IT IS ARGUED THAT A GROUP OF OMBUDSMEN IS TANTAMOUNT TO A CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD AND THUS FATAL TO THE CONCEPT OF PERSONAL ENTHUSIASM AND CREATIVITY WHICH IS THE HALLMARK OF THE SINGLE-EXECUTIVE TYPE OMBUDSMAN.