Police Brutality: What You Need to Know

Police brutality refers to authority abuse, though, unwarranted excessive force infliction, by law enforcement personnel, during their official duty. Moreover, correctional staff abuses, in municipal, federal and penal facilities as well as military prisons. Apart from its application in the context of physical harm application, police brutality, involves psychological damage a well, through intimidation tactics, which goes beyond, officially sanctioned scope of police procedure. Initially, the perpetrators of police brutality, acted with the local legal system tacit approval; for instance, during the era of civil rights. In the era of today, perpetrators, of police brutality, act with their superior's the tactic approval or the officers may be rogue. Either way, they perform their brutal actions, under the law color, while covering up, their illegal activities, subsequently. 

Police brutality is involved divisive and gross violations of human rights in the United States. The abuse includes the whole nation- urban areas, rural areas, and the local regions of the country. These violations relate to state police, federal agents, sheriff's department and local police. The human rights watch reports that all cities do not have transparency and effective accountability of the public. 

How to address incidences of police brutality 

Human rights watch recommended that; the local and state police departments which portray efforts of respecting human rights and curbing abuse by police are the ones who deserve federal aid. The police departments need to create as well as strengthen agencies of civilian review through putting new systems of warning in place, for identification of officers accused severally, as well as to create an office of the prosecutor which especially pursues cases of police brutality. Implementation of covenants of international human rights should be affected. The US has the obligation of upholding the standards of international human rights. However, the international law on human rights has a greater protection that the legislation of US in several areas. The civil rights movements of the African- Americans, fell victims of numerous police brutality incidences when they were struggling for racial equality and justice. Moreover, during, the 1963 Birmingham campaign, as well as the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches (Malcolm 2000). 

The media coverage sparked outrage in the nation, thus leading to rapid growth of sympathy, for the movement. In his speeches, Martin Luther King Junior criticized the brutality of the police. In that era, the party of Black Panther formed to respond to the brutality of the police, from the whites' department of police which were disproportional, and perceived as black communities oppressors. Various departments of police, developed conflicts with the party of Black Panther, lead to violence, and death of 15 officials of police, and 34 Black Panther party. 

Contributing factors 

In the United States, police brutality, accusations, as well as race, are continuously linked. As a result, the phenomenon has led to, race riots strings, in many years. Numerous doctrines like, causation, power separations, deference, federalism, the burden of proof and discretion, provide partial explanations for the police misconduct fragment pursuit of judiciaries. However, it is also evident, the courts are not in a position to choose or not to choose, to see, police brutality regular patterns. 

Other factors which encourage brutality of police include; systems which are institutionalized in, training culture and management; a system of criminal justice, which does not encourage prosecutors to pursue police misconduct vigorously. A system of politics which, readily responds to police than inner city residents, and communities considered to be minor; and a political culture of racism which holds high esteem of strict policing than the due process for every citizen, and fears crime. The police deviance control is at its best, without a social change which is substantial. In 1919 The Volstead Act passages, in the United States, have lasting adverse effects in the long run, on practices of policing. By mid-1920s there was a dramatic growth of crime, due to illegal alcohol demand. Many agencies of law enforcement, stepped up unlawful practices usage. During the time of Hoover administration, the issue became a national concern. Therefore, they formed, ‘' National Committee on Law Observation and Enforcement'' the 1931 report on law enforcement lawlessness, reached a conclusion that, "the third degreethat is, the use of physical brutality, or other forms of cruelty, to obtain involuntary confessions or admissions is widespread. “Police brutality relates to racial profiling. Socioeconomic status, political, ethnic and religious difference, exists between the citizenry and the police. Some officers view the population; with the notion that they deserve punishment. A group of the population perceives the police as oppressors. Moreover, it is evident that police brutality victims, hails from groups which are relatively powerless, like, the disabled, cultural or racial minorities, as well as the poor. 

Academic theories like, the hypothesis of community violence and the threat hypothesis, have provided the basis of police brutality explanations. According to the risk approach, "police use force in direct response to a perceived threat from racial and economic groups viewed as threatening to the existing social order." On the other hand, the hypothesis of community violence implies that ‘'force is used to control groups that threaten the community or police themselves with violence.'' (Lawrence 2014)Several changes have taken place in the system of criminal justice for the safety of the citizens. However, people of color are harshly treated thereby creating negative perception towards the law enforcements agents. These traumatic events are available on the social media platforms. Researchers reveal that the victims who report cases of police brutality will eventually suffer from trauma and symptoms of anxiety. However, those who said fairness in treatment had few anxiety symptoms. Post-traumatic stress disorders can cause panic attacks. It is associated with police brutality. When a Peron is inflicted with trauma, they are likely to suffer from PTSD. Nevertheless, injury severity and length also contribute to the disorder. Police brutality victims may pursue cases in court, against the employees of their accusers. However, in most cases, the court cases works against the victims (Ryan 2010). Eventually, the charges against the agents of law enforcement may not go through. Some police brutality cases may have the higher profile when compared to others. The private life of the victim may face exposure to the attention of media. Doctors affirm that, watching videos of people being treated brutally by the police may affect the psychological health of individuals. 

A list of cases of police brutality 

While conducting surveillance the US marshals shot Keith Childress dead claiming that he had a gun only to find out later that he had a cell phone. 

In December 2015, the police from Chicago shot dead Bettie Jones mistakenly while dealing a domestic violence that related to his son. 

In 1986, officers from Los Angeles police department beat up some men from Latino in a police station. 

In March 1981 los Angeles officers arrested and beat Rodney kings the police officer involved were charged with assault. 

In august 1995, the police department assaulted Wayne Calvin and other allies. The city attempted to solve the case, despite the officers being found guilty, their cases were dropped. 

In October 1996, Rafael Peres a LAPD officer shot Javier Ovando; they planted a gun on the gang member, and claimed that the victim shot first. After rampant investigation the truth was revealed and Ovando received an award of $15 million. 

In 2000, some people pressed, lawsuits of civil rights, for unlawful detention and beatings, against some officers in Oakland police department. The accused were terminated. However, their cases were roped later. 

In 2002 July, a tourist took a video footage of Jeremy Morse beating up Jackson; the officer was interdicted and later on charged with assault. After two trials, his case was dropped. 

Ron Furtado, a police officer, shot Juan Herrera in 2004, in a car pursuit. Furtado did not face charges; however, the family of the victim received a compensation of $5 million. 

Daniel Andrew, California patrol officer, punched Pinnoock a bipolar woman. Andrew resigned from work. The lawsuit was settled and pinnock received $1.5 million. 

In 2014 April, Sergio Alvares, a former police officer in west Sacramento, received a sentence of 205 years, due to, sexual assault and kidnapping, 

In march 2013 Cassandra was injured seriously on the face after Michael Hart a police officer of Skokie, threw her into the cell using excessive force. Later the officer was charged with official misconduct and battery. 

Police officers from New Orleans, shot Henry Glover, and burnt his body. David warren shot him after they mistook him as an armed looter. Several officers were sentenced for committing the crime and covering it up. 

Upon being arrested, Albert Moseley, received inhumane beatings from Bryan Kershaw-a police officer from Baltimore department. After suing the city, Mosley received an award of $6 million. 

In 2008, a Baltimore officer, who was off duty, shot Tyrone brown after a night club party. Tshamba lied that Tyron had threatened his life. However, after an eye witness confessed the true ordeal, he was charged with manslaughter, and received a sentence of 15 years in prison. 

In 2012 September, SSgt. Johnnie riley shot a suspect who was handcuffed, suspected to have stolen a motorcycle. He was later charged of assault and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. 

A New York officer short Nathaniel Levi, who was unarmed. He was charged with homicide and received a prison sentence of 5 years. 

A city police officer from New York shot Diallo, 41 times, while unarmed. The officer claimed that he was reaching for a gun. Four officers faced interdiction for murder of second degree; however, they were later acquitted. 

In 1994, police officers from Philadelphia drove recklessly 2with Gino Thomson in the van, Thompson’s spine severed. He was settled for $ 600,000 after suing them 

Persons who wish to address issues of police brutality can write to the city government urging them to provide full funding for police officer-citizen review. In their writings, they should force the government to condition federal grants to departments of police, on the system of effective accountability creation. Most police officers involved in cases of brutality are men. However, in America, there are very few female police officers. Naturally, women are less likely to be violent. They are soft-hearted. Studies reveal that women officers draw weapons less and they tend to apply solutions which are non-physical. Moreover, they perform better than men in community outreach. Therefore the US government should consider recruiting more police officers to reduce incidences of police brutality. When female police officers work with the male officers, they may also influence their sanity towards unfair treatment to the people of color. 

Conclusion 

Unlike the male police officers, female officers save a lot of money the municipalities by minimizing chances of lawsuits against them. Despite evidence of women performing exemplary in the policing sector, Special Forces have done microscopic to increase their representation in the police force. Therefore to improve the situation of policing, the government should consider increasing the number of women in all the law enforcement agencies. 

References 

"Fighting Police Abuse.(1997). A Community Action Manual." American Civil Liberties Union. . Retrieved 2007-08-06. 

Olmes, M. D. (2000). Minority Threat and Police Brutality: Determinants of Civil Rights Criminal Complaints in U.S. Municipalities, 38, Criminology 

Regina G. Lawrence. (2014) The politics of force: media and the construction of police brutality . California: University of California Press 

There Is a Simple Solution to America's Policing Problem: More Female Cops http://time.com/4406327/police-shootings-women-female-cops/ 

Tom Ryan Police Brutality (2010). The Impact on the Victims retrieved on 30 November 2016 http://legalbeagle.com/6647581-police-brutality-impact-victims.html#ixzz1mPVngNGn