| Police officers are considered to be vanguards of a | | | | Racial profiling is the practice of suspecting a person |
| city's law and order. They are trained, appointed, and | | | | based on the characteristics of his/her race. By using |
| funded by the government to protect citizens from | | | | these preconceived characteristics, the police then |
| all forms of misconduct, violence, and crime. The | | | | identifies the probability of these people being more |
| most controversial aspect of their responsibilities is | | | | guilty of a certain crime based on their race's crime |
| the authority to use force. They may use force to | | | | profile. A theory has been said that the reason why |
| control and disperse a crowd, make an arrest, or | | | | police officers use racial profiling is because they |
| perform other daily routines for surveillance. However | | | | become more concerned in the probability of a more |
| this authority to use force should only be used within | | | | successful search or arrest rather than correctly |
| the boundaries necessary to resolve a certain | | | | identifying the suspect of the crime. A good example |
| disorder, other than that it attracts the attention of | | | | is how people of Middle Eastern descent are likely to |
| the public, the government, and the media as another | | | | receive a more thorough search in airports compared |
| case of police misconduct. | | | | to Europeans and Americans. This is because they |
| Police misconduct has attracted the media's attention | | | | are usually suspected to be terrorists than any other |
| for various reasons. One camp says that what has | | | | race. |
| been reported on the news is just the tip of the | | | | Falsified Evidence |
| iceberg. Another group says that reports of police | | | | The falsification of evidence is used either to convict |
| misconduct have been blown out of proportion. | | | | an innocent person or to solidify the conviction of a |
| Some observers note that there are multiple | | | | guilty person. There are those who choose to |
| instances when the police have successfully resolved | | | | tamper evidence in order to avoid the long and |
| operations without using excessive force and thus | | | | thorough process of collecting accurate data. There |
| should merit a form of recognition. However amidst | | | | are reported instances when the police manipulate a |
| different viewpoints, one thing remains true. Police | | | | crime scene by placing a gun to justify a shoot out. |
| misconduct has tarnished the police's reputation and | | | | This is the reason why the handling of evidence |
| most importantly the public's trust. | | | | during investigation should carefully follow the correct |
| Here are some examples of police misconduct that | | | | process of the chain of custody. It is important to |
| we should all be aware of. | | | | make sure that there is only a few number of people |
| Police Brutality | | | | as possible who will handle, inspect, and keep the |
| It has been mentioned before that the police are | | | | evidence. |
| only allowed to use force when necessary, apart | | | | Police Corruption |
| from that, abuse of power happens if they | | | | Bribery refers to the practice of soliciting financial |
| intentionally use excessive force through | | | | benefits and career advancements in exchange for |
| unreasonable physical and verbal assaults. A common | | | | not pressing charges and non-investigation of crimes |
| instance is when a police officer beats up a suspect | | | | committed usually by powerful individuals. Another |
| without any valid reason. What is interesting to note | | | | form of corruption exists in falsified evidence based |
| is that the usual victims belong to minority groups | | | | on vested interests in protecting someone or a group |
| such as Blacks, the poor, and the young people. | | | | of people. |
| According to recent reports by Amnesty | | | | Other forms of misconduct exist apart from those |
| International and Human Rights Watch, police brutality | | | | mentioned above. As much as we know the kinds of |
| is common in US prison. According to a 2006 report | | | | police misconduct, it is equally important to educate |
| by the Human Rights Watch, five state prison | | | | ourselves of our civil rights that protect us from any |
| systems allow the use of unmuzzled dogs on | | | | form of abuse, discrimination, and undue process. |
| prisoners as part of cell removal procedure. | | | | According to the Bill of Rights, the Fourth |
| False Arrest | | | | Amendment clearly states that unreasonable |
| An arrest pertains to the act of being held in custody | | | | searches of citizen's home and properties are |
| by the police for a certain period of time. Before | | | | considered illegal unless a warrant or a probable cause |
| arresting a suspect, the police should have a warrant | | | | has been presented. On the other hand the Eighth |
| of arrest or a court order issued to prove that there | | | | Amendment protects the citizens from any form of |
| is a probable reason for the arrest. Law enforcers | | | | cruel or unusual punishments. |
| and other authorities may also issue an arrest | | | | If you feel that you have been a victim of police |
| warrant to an individual provided that they were | | | | misconduct, it is best that you immediately consult a |
| vested by the jurisdiction to perform police power | | | | civil rights lawyer near you. With the help of a |
| acts. However the time limit of an arrest should only | | | | reputable civil rights attorney, you will be guided as to |
| last long enough for the police to identify the correct | | | | what options you have or what legal actions you |
| suspect especially for petty crimes. | | | | need to take in order to prove your case. |
| Racial Profiling | | | | |