Excessive Use of Force –Research Paper
Introduction
Excessive use of force by security agencies have been a subject of debate for far too long. The determination excessive, moderate, and small force has dominated 80% of such discussions. The search seeks to establish a position concerning the topic. It achieves the objective through the four sections of the research paper, namely, literature review, method, results, and discussion. The literature review section looks into the pertinent research issues and topics that inform the research problem –the use of excessive force by the police. Under the methods section, the research paper explores research design, sample size, population, and measurements. The third part of the research, results, discusses the findings of the research. Lastly, the discussion gives an interpretation of the results, recommendations, and also establishes areas for further study.
Literature Review
Excessive use of force by the security agencies has been a significant concern to different players in the security sector. Numerous studies have been conducted to explain the research problem. Some of the critical literature that elaborately informs excessive use of force by security agencies include; the definition and determination of qualifies to be an extreme force, the human rights and constitutional rights of the citizens, alternative methods of combating crime, weapons used and harmful reports that are made concerning security personnel’s behavior while discharging their mandate. Excessive use of force is mostly determined by the types of weapons that the police use and how they apply them and not the attitude of the police personnel.
Method
The sample size was arrived at through a random sampling method. The research was conducted within Albany County, New York. The data was collected through questionnaires that were administered to the public and the security personnel. The poll was designed to carry questions open-ended questions, close-ended, and ratings. The measurement sought to find out when they term police actions as amounting to the use of excessive force. The use of body cameras in the latest technology has brought into light these things, which generally happen. The cameras give footage of what is happening. The fourth amendment of the constitution prohibits the use of excessive force, which leads to the cruel and harsh treatment of the culprits. The law protects humans against any brutal or inhuman treatment from anyone.
Results
The research established that there is a close link between attitude and how security personnel reacts to the different security situation. Through their reaction, they end up beating people physically. Most people disagree with acts of brutality that are meant to bodily harm and not correct the culprits. The Supreme Court recognizes to make arrests or investigations within the law. However, it is limited to a certain degree of coercion, which corresponds to the threat (Kane, 2014). An example of excessive force is when the police shoot life bullets on innocent people who may not be even armed. It has been seen in recent research to be shared in nations with mostly blacks.
There are four main ways in which the use of force by the police can be categorized. These include deadly force, excessive force, unnecessary and appropriate force. The relevant authority is when the police officers use power to the levels that are required of them by the court. This is where the individual does not get injured out of innocence. For example, when a victim tries to fight the police back in the attempt to getting an arrest, then the police have to fight back, for instance, kick him down. This then would be the appropriate use of police force since it is proportionate to the threat they are facing.
The second type of force is a deadly force. This is where the energy used by the police causes critical problems, like causing death or the likelihood of one dying (Carter, 2019). There was a law that allowed the police to shoot, especially on fleeing suspects, who, by high chance, have committed a felony. At some point, this law was ruled out since it was not god for the life of the citizens. The mistake done by the courts is that they did not provide a law that defines a life-threatening situation. This leaves the police to interpret for themselves what a life-threatening condition is. This can explain the reason for so many police brutality cases getting out of hand in the courts.
The third type of force by the police is unnecessary to force. This is where energy is used appropriately, but I situation that the police could have avoided. It often happens due to action by the police, which escalates the case and through them to a situation where they need to use force (Carter, 2019). An example is when the police, confronted by a situation, say, with a man having a gun. The police then go on to shoot the person. This is unnecessary because they have not asked the man to drop the weapon or used other ways to try to separate the ammunition from the man. It, therefore, becomes unnecessary since it was unavoidable.
The fourth type of force by the police would be excessive force. This is where the cops use energy in such a way that they hurt and individual. They may cause bruises, bleeding, and even cuts that would send the individual into medication. This is the most common type of force that is there. The police sometimes think that they are entitled to do these actions, yet they fail to realize that they are hurting people. The court also makes the mistake of acquitting them, and this makes them continue since they know they won’t be convicted.
An example of the use of force by the police includes the story behind Drew Peterson, an ex-sergeant of the American police, working in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Peterson is in jail, under a thirty-eight years sentence. This imprisonment follows a conviction of murder case against his third wife, Savio. Savio was found dead in a birth tap at her home, with severe injuries in her scalp. The autopsy done showed that there was a struggle despite the initial claims that it was an accidental death (O’Conneor, 2017). Investigations revealed that Drew was responsible. His second wife, Stacy Ann, had previously disappeared never to be found. He is still being suspected of the same, coupled with plans he had for the murder of the district attorney, James, Glasgow. This shows how Peterson, being police, used force.
Discussion
Among the few things that are helping the public against such forces currently, are social media and technologies such as body cameras. The public is keen to circulate any videos and pictures of police brutality on people. The police force has also installed the body cameras that monitor what the police are doing in the field. The social media circulations would make the cops behave since no one would want to be the next trending video in social media. Body cameras also enable the police system to track all actions and determine if they were justifiable or not, according to the environment in which the activities occurred.
Some of the recommended ways to the police to avoid excess force includes that they be physically present. Whenever a 911 call is made, the police are supposed to report to the crime site to see what is happening; then, they come up with measures of how to handle the situation at hand (Kane, 2014). They are required to utilize verbal communication to give orders which do not threaten but rather sermons the person. This may include telling the alleged offender that they are under arrest and are supposed to surrender to the police officers. Where dangerous weapons are used, the police can keep distance and use a public address to sermon the criminals to quit.
They can also use empty-hand control for the lawbreakers who become a bit notorious. This may include pinning them down and chaining them to inhibit movement and any other action. Some of the people may try to run away, especially when they know they are in danger, the police are advised to run after them and chase them than using the gun as it puts the life of the person in danger and ends up violating their rights. The use of weapons for some situations is allowed for tools like batons and chemical strays. Firearms may be used only when the job is out of hand, and the life of the policy is in danger.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the use of force by the police has been seen to increase remarkably. People ought to the realization that it is against the constitution, and therefore, their rights are being violated, even if they have wronged. The police should also stick to the lessons they learn on how to tackle people in their criminal law classes.