PUBLIC COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE (FROM EVALUATING ALTERNATIVE LAW-ENFORCEMENT POLICIES, 1979, BY RALPH BAKER AND FRED A MEYER, JR - SEE NCJ-65735)

• NCJ Number: 65745
• Author(s): G CAIDEN; H HAHN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

ALTHOUGH POLICE TRADITIONALLY RESIST OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO COMPLAIN; RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR NEW CITIZEN COMPLAINT PROCESSES TO REPLACE PRESENT, UNSATISFACTORY ONES.

Abstract

CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE MAY OFTEN STEM FROM POOR INFORMATION, YET CITIZENS IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY HAVE A RIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT PUBLIC SERVANTS ACTING IN THEIR OFFICIAL CAPACITY. NEVERTHELESS, NO CHEAP, RELIABLE COMPLAINT PROCESS, BENEFICIAL TO BOTH CITIZENS AND POLICE, EXISTS. BY THE NATURE OF ITS WORK, THE POLICE FORCE TENDS TO BE LOYAL TO ITS OWN, CUT OFF FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND RESENTFUL OF OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE. POLICE WILL CLOSELY GUARD THEIR ORGANIZATION'S INDEPENDENCE TO PREVENT THEIR BEING MANIPULATED POLITICALLY. MOREOVER, THE PRESS AND POLITICIANS TEND TO PROTECT POLICE. USUALLY THE POLICE THEMSELVES INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THEM, BUT SOME DEPARTMENTS LACK PROCEDURES AND OTHERS PENALIZE COMPLAINANTS. ALTHOUGH THE POLICE OFTEN DO NOT TAKE CITIZENS' COMPLAINTS SERIOUSLY, CITIZENS DO NOT USUALLY COMPLAIN WITHOUT REASON. MORE EFFECTIVE COMPLAINT-HANDLING IS THUS NEEDED. TO COMPROMISE WITH POLICE RESISTANCE TO OUTSIDE REVIEW, AN OMBUDSMAN OR SPECIAL OFFICE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS BUT WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION OR DISCIPLINARY POWERS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT INCIDENTS OF POLICE'S SHOOTING BY POLICE BE AUTOMATICALLY INVESTIGATED BY THE COMPLAINT-HANDLING BODY. (PAP)