NCJ Number
99247
Date Published
1985
Length
34 pages
Annotation
After discussing the dynamics of the police use of force and problems in reviewing the appropriateness of such police conduct, this paper examines contemporary experience with structures for reviewing police conduct and proposes principles for developing complaint procedures.
Abstract
Since the police use of force is based in the officer's subjective perception of the situation and the broader social milieu in which the incident occurs, it is difficult to determine the appropriateness of the officer's conduct. Structures for reviewing and acting upon complaints against police are designed to evaluate questionable police conduct. Three external social institutions periodically review police conduct: prosecutors, judges, and the news media. The most systematic and pervasive review of police conduct, however, is performed by the police themselves within an administrative structure. Complaints of bias in such processing have produced various citizen review structures. These include (1) the civilian review model, which vests the authority to investigate, adjudicate, and recommend punishment in a civilian board; (2) the civilian input model, which gives only complaint reception and investigative authority to the board; and (3) the civilian monitor model, which assigns the police all processing functions, with the citizen board monitoring the adequacy of the review. An analysis of the various types of complaint structures and procedures used suggests that complaint processing and decisionmaking should be vested in the police department but that external monitoring of the police review is essential. Tabular data cover the incidence of police complaints in various cities in 1976 and complainant satisfaction with complaint processing. Six notes are provided.