Paper

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RUNNING HEAD: EXCESSIVE POLICE FORCE

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EXCESSIVE POLICE FORCE

In a 5–7 page paper (1250–1750 words), choose and analyze an ethical decision situation (Excessive Police Force as an Ethical Issue In the Criminal Justice System) that you think needs to be addressed. For instance, a judge might have to release a serious felon based upon technicalities that have arisen in a court case. Although the judge knows this person is guilty based upon impeccable evidence, the law dictates the judge must dismiss the case. What should the judge do? Override the system and invoke their power as a judge to continue the trial? Release the person? These dilemmas arise regularly in police agencies, courts and prisons.

Write an introduction to the issue. You then need to think about who it involves, who it affects, the various models of ethics that may come into play to justify a decision, and ultimately your position on the decision. What would be your decision? How would you decide and why? Write a brief summary of your ethical situation and decision-making process to close the paper.

Be sure to have an example and a theory to explain unethical behavior in the use of force.

Research paper topic proposal:

Excessive Police Force as an Ethical Issue

In the Criminal Justice System

Excessive Police Force as an Ethical Issue

In the Criminal Justice System

Excessive police force refers to the conditions whereby the law enforcement officers are officially permitted to use force to diffuse an incident. This act can come out in different contexts, some of which may seem unlawful or unethical leading to police brutality. Police brutality and using excessive force during an arrest is an increasing ethical concern in the criminal justice system.

Ethics is a fundamental component of the criminal justice system. The ethics of moral judgment and other practices in the criminal justice system are key in the provision of free and fair criminal justice system. However, there has been increasing cases of unethical conduct among the law enforcement officers of the criminal justice system. This paper addresses the use of excessive police force and police brutality against civilians as an ethical concern in the criminal justice system.

The use of police force by police officers is permitted under certain conditions including self-defense and defense of other groups. The police officers are only allowed to use a reasonable amount of energy while arresting or handling civilians who happen to be suspects of criminal activities (Desmond, 2016). However, the police officers have increasingly taken advantage of their power and used excessive force against the civilians. This act is very unethical in the eyes of the law as they use excessive force on unarmed people and oppress them. The police force has resulted in injuries to the civilians and even death (Haas, 2015). The use of force should be the final option only when called for, for instance, when the civilians are heavily armed and violent. However, the police officers have failed to comply with this providence of the use of force and continued to engage in unlawful conduct of using excessive force to oppress the civilians.

In conclusion, police officers are permitted to use a reasonable amount of force while arresting criminals. However, police officers have taken advantage of their position to oppress and use excessive force on civilians leading to police brutality. This conduct is considered unethical as it may result in serious repercussions. Making the right decision can be challenging for police officers. Making ethical choices can at times imply having to disappoint an individual or a group. Still, the law enforcement officers are expected to make ethical decisions that cause the least harm and ensure that justice is served.

References

Desmond, M., Papachristos, A. V., & Kirk, D. S. (2016). Police violence and citizen crime reporting in the black community. American Sociological Review, 81(5), 857-876.

Haas, N. E., Van Craen, M., Skogan, W. G., & Fleitas, D. M. (2015). Explaining officer compliance: The importance of procedural justice and trust inside a police organization. Criminology & criminal justice, 15(4), 442-463.