NCJ Number
42040
Date Published
1976
Length
353 pages
Annotation
AT THE DESCRIPTIVE LEVEL, A MAJOR PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY IS TO DELINEATE FROM TWO PERSPECTIVES (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL) THE PROCESSES BY WHICH POLICE MALPRACTICE IN LOS ANGELES IS HANDLED.
Abstract
WITHIN THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FOCUS IS ON THE STRUCTURE AND PROCESSES OF THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION, WHICH INVESTIGATES ALL ALLEGATIONS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT. THE EXTERNAL AGENCIES AND PROCESSES THAT ARE INTENDED TO HOLD THE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. AT THE THEORETICAL LEVEL, AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO EXPLAIN TWO PHENOMENA, AND AGAIN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PERSPECTIVES ARE INVOLVED. THE FIRST PROBLEM EXPLAINED IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CERTAINTY AND SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENT FOR SOME POLICE INFRACTIONS AND THE SEEMING LENIENCE WITH WHICH OTHERS, NOTABLY USE OF FORCE, ARE HANDLED. SECOND TO BE EXPLAINED IS THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE ASSERTED NEED FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY TO MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND THEIR ACTUAL AUTONOMY. ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT LOS ANGELES POLICE WERE NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS BUT HAD AUTONOMY GRANTED ON CONDITION OF GOOD BEHAVIOR; THAT THE PROFESSIONAL AUTONOMY POLICE ENJOY DOES MEAN THAT THE DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE AS WELL AS IT MIGHT; AND THAT STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT POSSIBLE. SUGGESTIONS FOR BALANCING THE NEED FOR ORDER AND THE NEED TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF POLICE CLIENTS TO DUE PROCESS OF LAW CENTER ON THE DECENTRALIZATION OF POLICE DISCIPLINE BY BRINGING THE PROCESS CLOSER TO VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT HAVING IT NECESSARILY COME UNDER THEIR CONTROL. CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD AND OMBUDSMEN SYSTEMS IN WHICH CIVILIANS FULFILL A CONSCIENCE, AS OPPOSED TO A CONTROL, ROLE ARE PROPOSED AS POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES. A NINE-PAGE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED...ELW