NCJ Number
43797
Date Published
1977
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A SERIES OF NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND EDITORIALS CONCERNING ILLEGAL POLICE VIOLENCE IN PHILADELPHIA, PA., IS REPRINTED.
Abstract
THE ARTICLES WERE PROMPTED BY REPORTS FROM CITIZENS FOLLOWING 'PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER' SERIES ON BRUTALITY IN THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT HOMICIDE UNIT. INCLUDED IN THE REPRINT ARE ARTICLES DESCRIBING WITNESS' ACCOUNTS OF POLICE BEATINGS. SEVERAL ACCOUNTS OF POLICE BEATINGS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BEATING VICTIMS AND OF WITNESSES. ONE ARTICLE DESCRIBES A CASE IN WHICH JURORS FELT A DEFENDANT WAS GUILTY OF MURDER BUT ACQUITTED HIM BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED HIS CONFESSION HAD BEEN OBTAINED BY FORCE. ANOTHER CASE INVOLVES A MAN WHO WAS CONVICTED IN A FIREBOMBING INCIDENT, SERVED 15 MONTHS IN JAIL, AND WAS RELEASED AFTER ANOTHER MAN CONFESSED TO THE CRIME. IN DISMISSING CHARGES AGAINST THE FIRST DEFENDANT, THE JUDGE CITED A 'PATTERN OF PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT.' ANOTHER ARTICLE CITES THE FINDING OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CENTER OF PHILADELPHIA, A FEDERALLY FUNDED AGENCY THAT STUDIES POLICE CONDUCT, THAT THERE EXISTS A PATTERN OF BEATINGS BY POLICE OF WHITE AND BLACK MEN AND WOMEN IN THE CITY. ANOTHER ARTICLE ALLEGES THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING TO THWART STATE AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS OF ALLEGED POLICE CRIMES.