NCJ Number
174537
Journal
Critical Sociology Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: 1996 Pages: 29-49
Date Published
1996
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This article investigates trends in police brutality as reported in major newspapers.
Abstract
A study used the keywords "police brutality" to examine 15 major newspapers' descriptions of incidents of police misconduct against citizens that occurred from January 1, 1990 to May 31, 1992. The study analyzed 130 incidents considering the race and gender of officers and victims, as well as issues of socioeconomic class, and categorized and discussed situational characteristics surrounding alleged misconduct. Minority citizens were involved in a vast majority of the incidents. There was a relative lack of penalties against the officers involved in abusive actions against citizens. In terms of who was targeted, whites were least likely, then Latinos, and then blacks. When officers' behavior was more proactive, the victim's social class appeared to have some relation to the assault. Further, a citizen was equally likely to be assaulted for a disrespectful attitude towards a law enforcement officer as for posing a serious threat of bodily harm to the officer or to another person. Tables, notes, references