| Whenever a law enforcement officer uses more | | | | or political stance. When these differences are |
| force than necessary in restraining and controlling the | | | | obviously present, they might spur the policeman (or |
| offender, whether it is verbal or physical, he or she | | | | policewoman) to take unnecessary measures in an |
| has committed a crime regarded as police brutality. | | | | effort to restrain and punish the offending individual. |
| While police brutality has a long history throughout | | | | A police officer may act overly harsh toward the |
| the world, in the United States today it is not an | | | | citizen in conflict with the law out of fear, as well. He |
| acceptable procedure. It is the duty of police officers | | | | or she may feel the need to exert and flaunt his or |
| to keep the peace among the people, but by utilizing | | | | her power in order to more easily retrain the citizen |
| violent procedures - both physically and verbally - | | | | or make the citizen more compliant. |
| they are in fact doing the exact opposite of what | | | | What should you do as a victim of police brutality? |
| they seek to uphold. | | | | It is always unfortunate when a police officer steps |
| As mentioned, police abuse includes unnecessary | | | | outside the bound of his or her jurisdiction and |
| physical and psychological force used against another | | | | abuses another being. Often times, incidents of this |
| person. The most common forms of police brutality | | | | cruelty go unreported. If you have been a victim of |
| are | | | | police brutality, you should report it right away, or |
| Why does police brutality occur? | | | | seek an attorney that can help you make your case |
| Many believe that there are psychological factors | | | | known. This is a problem in America, and measures |
| that drive police officers to utilize brutality when | | | | need to be taken in attempt to eradicate this |
| dealing with offenders of the law. They claim that | | | | violation of human rights. |
| the policemen have developed a feeling of | | | | There is much opposition to police brutality here in |
| entitlement and being "above the law" due to their | | | | the United States. Groups take stances against these |
| position and duties in society, which drives them to | | | | offenses, claiming them to be "one of the most |
| perform unnecessarily forceful actions when doing | | | | serious human rights violation" there is. If you have |
| their jobs. | | | | been a victim of police brutality, they might be able |
| Others believe that this abuse stems from anger or | | | | to help you gain justice. |
| prejudice regarding fundamental differences between | | | | Don't let yourself become a victim of police brutality. |
| the law officer and the citizen. This includes race, | | | | Know your rights; know their rights. |
| age, religion, gender, apparent socio-economic status, | | | | |