CJS 211 – Policing in America – Written Assignments Instructions
Paper # 3 – Police Accountability for Officer Misconduct
Communities and police administrators must hold their police agencies accountable for the policies and actions.
Without accountability the police might behave very differently than they do today. In recent years there has been an increased emphasis on reporting alleged misconduct involving the killing of suspects by the police. Critics argue that the police are not being held accountable when prosecutors won’t prosecute, grand juries won’t indict, and police agencies don’t discharge the accused employees.
Supporters say the police are justified under law and department regulations in the use of deadly force when the suspects present a threat of imminent harm or death.
Conduct your own research on the topic and write a short paper that addresses the following questions:
Under what conditions should police be permitted to use deadly force?
Are public expectations about police accountability for deadly force incidents realistic? Are these expectations based in an examination of the facts involved in the incident, or are they the result of an emotional response validated by social media?
What systems can be used to evaluate the use of deadly force by the police to assure that they are following laws and regulations and are being held accountable when they do not?
Pick one of the police deadly force incidents that have been highlighted in the media since August 2014. Briefly describe what has been reported to have happened in that incident. Tell if you agree or disagree with the accountability outcome for this event and explain your position. Cite reference to back up your position.
Write your paper using each of these questions as headers. Respond directly to the question under the appropriate header.
Use at least two references from the Academic Articles List, and at least two articles from the News Media list to support the facts stated in your paper.
Put the references on a separate page with the word References centered at the top fop the page. Use APA style for the References page including double spacing, hanging indentation, and correct use of capitalization of letter in each citation. If you do not know how to do this, ask me about it!
Each paper will be a work of original research by the student and will address the topic for that paper. Any us of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the development of the paper is prohibited. Use of AI resources will result in a score of zero for the paper. Include as much factual data as you can.
In-text citations are critical and must be used. Papers without in-text citations will receive a very low grade. Properly format the citation of all references within the text and at the end of the paper.
You may use any material assigned in the class as a reference, articles provided on Canvas, as well as any material that you find on your own that is directly related to the topic and involves policing in America. At least two academic references are required for each paper. These are articles taken from peer-reviewed academic journals. Use the subscription research databases on our Library Research Guide.
Web-based references that end in .com, .org, etc. or Wikipedia, and other commercial websites are not acceptable as references (unless they are found in the list below). Use of such resources will earn a zero for the paper.
You are given the opportunity to express an opinion about each topic, but that will be a small part of each paper and included only after the factual discussion.
Each paper will consist of at least four pages of text about the topic plus a reference page.
All assignments must be submitted in Word format. Follow the formatting and citation for APA. If you need assistance with formatting and citation styles, Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (OWL), Research and
Unless otherwise noted, all homework and writing assignments must be submitted electronically as a file upload through Canvas. Include your reference page with your paper, not as a separate page. Use only MS Office to prepare assignments. Assignments submitted in PDF, Google Docs, Open Source Text, etc. will be rejected and graded as a zero.
Written assignments submitted by e-mail will not be accepted or graded.
Pay close attention to the instructions for each paper. Stay focused and write only on what the assignment requires for each separate paper. Do not get ahead of the assignment by including material that is intended for later papers or wander off course to tell me about something that is not part of the assignment. All assignments are about matters involved in American policing. You may use reference to policing in other countries only for comparative purposes and only if warranted. If you do not understand an assignment – please speak with me about it before the paper is due.
Approved References are listed below. You may use others if they comply with the assignment instructions.
Scholarly Academic Articles for Use in the Paper –
Choose at least two. You may use other scholarly articles that you locate on your own. Use the search tools on our Library Research Guide.
Threat Dynamics and Police Use of Force – 2023 – Krajewski, Worrall, & Scales
Prediction of Serious Misconduct in Law Enforcement Officers – Twibell, McGrath, and Guller – 2022
The prevalence of fatal police shootings by U.S. police, 2015–2016: Patterns and answers from a new data set
Citizen Complaints Against the Police An Eight City Examination – Terrill and Ingram – 2015
Police-Worn Body Cameras – Balancing Privacy and Accountability – Kampfe – 2015
Reconciling Results on Racial Differences in Police Shootings
Race, Structural Predictors, and Police Shootings: Are There Differences Across Official and “Unofficial” Accounts of Lethal Force?
Citizen complaints and problem officers: Examining officer behavior – Terrill and McCluskey – 2002
Understanding Racial Disparities in Police Use of Lethal Force: Lessons from Fatal Police-on-Police Shootings
A Use of Deadly Force: People with Mental Health Conditions and Encounters with Law Enforcement
Police officer involved shootings – retrospective study of situational characteristics
A Social Scientific Approach toward Understanding Racial Disparities in Police Shooting – Data from the Department of Justice 1980-2000
LOS ANGELES V. MENDEZ: PROXIMATE CAUSE PROMISE FOR POLICE SHOOTING VICTIMS
Revocation of Police Officer Certification: A Viable Remedy for Police Misconduct – Goldman and Puro – 2001
News Media Sources
You may use any of the references from the list. Use at least two of these sources. Each must be correctly cited in-text and on the References page.
Making Sense of Unofficial Deadly Force Data – IACP.
‘Come give me that hug:’ Cop saves suicidal man with warm embrace.
Civil rights investigations of local police – lessons learned 2013 – PERF
Emerging Use of Force Issues – Balancing Public and Officer Safety
Enhancing Accountability and Trust
Key-Issues-in-the-Police-Use-of-Pedestrian-Stops-and-Searches – 2012
Making good cops in the twenty-first century – Emerging issues for the effective recruitment, selection and training of police in the United States and abroad – White and Escobar
Elyria police storm man’s home, arrest him without warrant -2023.
Man barricaded in home shoots officers serving an eviction notice.
Officer-Involved Shooting Situations, Responses, and Data – Grieco and Robbins
Police Integrity Lost – A Study of Law Enforcement Officers Arrested – 2016 – Stinson et al
72 Philadelphia Police Officers Placed On Desk Duty Over Offensive Social Media Posts.
115 Law Enforcement Officers Killed by Mentally Ill.
People with Untreated Mental Illness 16 Times More Likely to Be Killed By Law Enforcement.
Ferguson Missouri, August 2014 – Shooting of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORT REGARDING THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE SHOOTING DEATH OF MICHAEL BROWN BY FERGUSON, MISSOURI POLICE OFFICER DARREN WILSON
10 Key Facts Ferguson Grand Jury Discovered.
11 essential facts about Ferguson and the shooting of Michael Brown.
New Ferguson Video Adds Wrinkle to Michael Brown Case.
Anger Outruns the Facts in Ferguson.
North Charleston, SC, April 2015, Shooting of Walter Scott by Officer Michale T. Slager
Walter Scott shooting footage synced with police scanner audio – video.
South Carolina shooting: Walter Scott’s family appeals for calm.
South Carolina Officer Is Charged With Murder of Walter Scott.
Walter Scott shooting case: Court documents reveal new details.
A curated collection of links About the Murder of Walter Scott.
Ex-Officer Who Shot Walter Scott Pleads Guilty in Charleston.
Michael Slager, Officer in Walter Scott Shooting, Gets 20-Year Sentence.
Appeal denied for ex-North Charleston officer who fatally shot Walter Scott.
Ex-North Charleston police officer who killed Walter Scott petitions U.S. Supreme Court.
St. Anthony MN July 2016 Shooting of Philando Castile by Officer Jeronimo Yanez
Combined videos show fatal Castile shooting.
Officer charged with manslaughter in Philando Castile killing.
Minnesota officials are calling for a federal investigation of the Philando Castile shooting. What might that mean for the case?
DOJ Is Monitoring Investigation Into Fatal Police Shooting Of Philando Castile.
DOJ – CRS 2016 Annual Report – See pages 20-21
This is the archive of MPR News’ live coverage of the trial, starting from the beginning..
Experts Weigh In on Video of Philando Castile Shooting.
Police officer who shot dead Philando Castile acquitted of all charges.
Hundreds Protest After Minnesota Officer Found Not Guilty In Philando Castile Death.
Family of Philando Castile reaches $3M settlement in police shooting case.
Cop who killed Philando Castile to be paid $48,500 in buyout.
Yanez outcome predictable due to wrong charges.
Judge writes letter of support to jurors who acquitted officer in Philando Castile shooting.
You may report on any of the cases below after conducting your own research.
Who Police Killed In 2014 – 21 Cases.
Darrien Hunt; Saratoga Springs, UT: 2014
Ezell Ford; Los Angeles, CA: 2014
Omar Abrego; Los Angeles, CA: 2014
Tamir E. Rice; Cleveland, OH: 2014
Tanisha Anderson; Cleveland, OH: 2014
Sixteen Others are listed in the report
The Police Shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, July 5, 2016
Alton Sterling Shooting in Baton Rouge Prompts Justice Dept. Investigation.
You may use other cases that you have discovered. Check with me before using these.
