Abstract
This paper describes the vagueness of police brutality and investigates this crime from different points of view. The paper focuses on police brutality in Toronto and bases its findings on inductive interview research as well as textual sources.

From the Paper
"Police brutality in democratic systems represents a serious crime for civil policing is relied upon as a `neutral' institution of law enforcement. Examined as crime, police brutality fits well with a number of now popular criminological theories in those of classical deviance or nonconformity, biological or psychological inducements towards coercive or abusive behaviours, structural realities in society that may cause police to feel powerless within their roles or as persons having more rightful power than they do. Conflict models of motivation and aberration are..."

Tags:police toronto, brutality, opinion

Abstract
This paper explains that minority groups, who are most impacted by public distrust, bear the brunt of repeated police brutality. Furthermore, of all the minority communities, the author indicates that the African-American community is most affected. Not only is this group, especially men, targeted the most by police but also police harassment and brutality occur on a regular and predictable basis. The paper concludes that acknowledgment of the problem is an essential aspect in initiating the healing process that will re-build trust between the police department and the community and thus curtail police brutality.

Table of Contents:
Police Brutality--An Introduction and Perspective
Concept and Term
A Problem and Society Effect
Race of the Community as the Explanatory Variable
Concept and Term
A Problem and Society Effect
Most Impacted Behavioral Science--the Moderating Variable
Concept and Term
Works as a Buffer

From the Paper
"Society has become distrustful of police officers, due to high profile incidents that serve to disproportionately reflect the abusiveness of an undetermined amount, but not all policemen in society. The actual percentages and figures of police brutality, despite the impact of high profile cases, ultimately become secondary to public perceptions thereof, in addressing the problem. The real problem in this day and age is public mistrust."

Tags:plague mistrust, confrontational attitudes, african-american perceptions

Abstract
The paper discusses how because police brutality is difficult to define, and therefore difficult to prosecute, and because it has a racist element, police brutality is an incredible problem in the United States. The paper contends that a more rigid definition of police brutality and accountability system is needed to ensure the safety of all citizens.

From the Paper
"Because police work is much different than other types of work, it is more difficult to understand when a policeman is being violent and when he or she is simply doing his or her job. In fact, Adams writes, "In attempting to define excessive force there are a number of difficulties" (52). These include the fact that whether or not an incident used "excessive force" cannot be "scientifically verified" (Adams 52). Although the Supreme Court has issued a definition of extreme force, that definition takes into account many of the extenuating circumstances inherent with police work, including "whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others" and the type of crime (Adams 53). The definitions and classifications are so varied that researchers and experts estimate completely different numbers of police brutality cases (Adams 53). In other words, determining what is actually considered violence comes down to a debate among witnesses, police officers, courts, and scholars. While this evidence can be used to argue that incidents of reported police violence are actually incidents where no violence occurred, it can also be used to argue that incidents labeled non-violent had violent elements. Further, this evidence suggests that even after inquiries and hearings, one can never definitively say whether police brutality was used in an incident, as the definitions are ultimately subjective."

Tags:racism, accountability, subjectivity

Abstract
This paper discusses police brutality and whether financial damages awarded equals justice. The paper further discusses the different degrees of brutality and the frequency of occurrence. The writer looks into the potential damages to public agencies and whether town, city and county governments face bankruptcy or financial ruin because of these judgments against them. In conclusion the paper examines whether this need to sue reflects problems in society and whether there is a cultural basis for it.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Research Questions and Sub-Questions
Definition of Police Brutality
Limitations of Study
Brief Review of Related Literature
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper
"Part of the problem is most aspects of police abuse, its data collection and lawsuits resulting for "police brutality" is inadequate. Some cities do not even distinguish amounts paid in cases of misconduct, including excessive force, from damages arising because of traffic accidents. This allows lack of concrete data just allows the trend to continue. Other information includes a myriad of police actions not even associated with misconduct or monetary judgments, rather they are completely different police matters somehow thrown in the mix. For instance the data collection at Atlanta's police department had no system intact and one wonders why the agency out of cities surveyed pays the most lawsuits."

Tags:abuse, history, violence

Abstract
Police brutality is defined as the excessive use of physical force, assault, verbal attacks, and threats by police officers. This paper discusses how police brutality has existed as long has law enforcement has been around and how many different tactics to prevent it have been instituted. In particular, the paper looks at the public's perception that police misuse and abuse their power, citing the Chicago disturbance of 1919 and the Los Angeles riots following the controversial Rodney King trial as examples.

From the Paper
"There are many different reasons to why police brutality exists, one of them which is commonly used by police departments, is the "bad apple paradigm". This reason for brutality is often used by departments because it alleviates most of their responsibility for the brutality because they can simply blame that individual and say that it is an isolated incident caused by a bad apple. Criminologist and Author David Friedrich once said "Police work is likely to attract at least some individuals who enjoy bullying others or join the force with the intention of exploiting special opportunities to enrich themselves. At one time this was the most widely accepted cause of police brutality, but within recent years, research has proven otherwise. Profiles of officers that had used excessive force were examined by psychologists and what was discovered, is that there was such a wide range of profiles that it did not support the 'bad apple' stereotype."

Tags:riots, rodney, king, discipline

Abstract
This paper examines how the use of force and brutality are on the minds of every police officer and police administrator every day and how both have to think about whether it is ethical to apply the amount of force necessary without it becoming police brutality. It explores how the law enforcement community has been challenged to formulate innovative systems and procedures to help guide an agency to accomplish its mission with minimal use-of-force and misconduct incidents. It discusses how implementation of proactive measures to identify and control these incidents will help chief executives to tactfully and diplomatically handle controversial uses of force as they occur.

From the Paper
"More and more cases are arising saying police used excessive force in their arrests. There is a definite need for use of force in law enforcement. However there is also a line where the use of force becomes excessive. From the position of a law enforcement officer, there are situations that become very hostile and dangerous. The officers are obligated to get those situations under control as fast as possible without bringing any harm to themselves, innocent bystanders or the arrestee. The absence of the use of force in any arrest is very limited. Without the use of force there would be some situations that could not be handled correctly and someone's life may be in danger."

Tags:officer, administrator, law, enforcement

Abstract
This paper discusses that, many times, people are stopped for no reason and subjected to callous behavior at the hands of police officers; therefore, it is important for everyone to overcome his or her preconceived notions of different races in order to stop this despicable behavior. The author points out that the myths of black criminality are so embedded in the white psyche that it seems perfectly natural to many Americans that blacks are disproportionately stopped for traffic infractions, arrested for drug offenses, swept off the street for loitering, and sent to prison. The paper concludes that, although cases of police brutality against Hispanics and African-Americans are capturing the attention of the public, these groups continue to face racial profiling.

Table of Contents
Introduction
History of Brutality
Past Cases
Present Cases
Conclusion

From the Paper
"New York City's police department has a history of racial abuse. Police officials there report a decrease in crime rates, however they often fail to mention that ?civilian complaints of police abuse has risen almost 40% since 1993 and the amount the city has paid to settle these claims has doubled.? Between 1997 and 1998, out of the 45,000 people detained, only 9,500 were arrested. This illustrates the point that over 35,000 people were stopped for no reason, most of whom were African American or Hispanic. Some of these innocent citizens have been the subjects of appalling ?cases of police brutality which has heightened resentment toward the police and concerns about the city's policing police."

Tags:cases, abuse, racial, profiling, myth

Abstract
In this article, the writer studies the work 'Fire In a Canebrake' by Laura Wexler and notes that the gripping saga of a brutal page in American history is written dispassionately. The writer explains that this is the story of the last lynching in America, told in the words of some of the people peripherally involved. The writer maintains that Wexler demonstrates in her candid interviews with the locals that among some people the old attitudes prevail, which indeed is the strongest use of foreshadowing in the book. The writer concludes that the book allows the reader to know that even though the investigation is open and the murderers have not been caught, in all likelihood they would remain unknown because of the prejudice and secrets still present in southern culture.

From the Paper
"Researching this work was obviously a daunting task. Small town America, particularly in the Deep South, can be a close-knit society. The idea that a stranger could come in and gather information on a brutal crime still being investigated by policing agencies would make the task all that more difficult to achieve. When the fact that the outsider is a woman is considered it makes Wexler's accomplishments even more extraordinary, for southern men often have a chauvinistic attitude toward women, and want to see them sheltered from reality.
"Though the crime she writes about seems from a bygone era it is a festering sore needing to be lanced by the people of Walton County, Georgia, and is a contemporary matter."

Tags:murder, Ku, Klux, Klan, cover-up, negro

Abstract
A critical paper on police brutality and the social conflict aspect of the issue.

Tags:critical, police, brutatlity

Abstract
The paper examines the legal use of force on behalf of police officers versus aggressive and excessive violence. The paper looks at various articles and focuses on highly publicized incidents, such as the Rodney King and Malice Green cases. The paper explains that there are many factors that contribute to police brutality and explores policy changes that can eliminate this use of excessive force.

Outline:
Introduction
Article Summaries and Findings
Insightful Analysis of Policy Implications or Creative Ideas for Application in the Criminal Justice Field
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The traditional police behavior as "crime-fighters" is constantly reinforced by the mass media through television, movies, and news reporting. A lot of cliches are used to describe the exemplifying role of police officers whose basic responsibility is to maintain order and public safety. It is undeniable that police officers are authorized to use force in some circumstances to overcome resistance of "difficult" populations. Thus violence or rough behavior is used by police against certain people in certain situations. However, it is important to distinguish between the legal use of force and unnecessary violence, aggressive and excessive force that are all various types of police brutality."

Tags:force, violence, aggressiveness, law, order