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POLITICS OF IDENTIFICATION - A PERSPECTIVE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

NCJ Number
16079
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1974) Pages: 119-128
Author(s)
L A SWAN
Date Published
1974
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT THE POLICEMAN'S LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAS CAUSED HIM TO USE MORE VIOLENCE AND ROUGH BEHAVIOR TOWARDS BLACKS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT BLACKS ARE OFTEN ACCUSED, TRIED, AND PUNISHED FOR POLICE-CREATED VIOLATIONS SINCE POLICE TEND TO VIEW BLACK EFFORTS TO CHANGE THEIR SOCIAL CONDITION AS A THREAT TO THEIR FUNCTION OF MAINTAINING ORDER. POLICE ENCOUNTERS WITH BLACK PEOPLE IN RIOT SITUATIONS ARE TRACED FROM THE NEW YORK CITY RIOTS IN 1900 TO THE SERIES OF SUMMER RIOTS OF 1967, AND ARE DISCUSSED IN THE LIGHT OF THE AUTHOR'S THEORY.