Multi-solution Approach to Tackling Police Brutality in America

Multi-solution Approach
to Tackling Police Brutality in America
Silver School of Social Work
Professor. Xu
by:
Sijia Zhao
MULTI-SOLUTION APPROACH
TO TACKLING POLICE BRUTALITY IN AMERICA
Police brutality is the use of excessive force by law enforcers. The term may also apply to situations where physical or psychological harm is caused to a person beyond the official police procedure. In America, police brutality has affected most ethnicities, genders, races and classes. Among African Americans, police brutality has been the norm. This fact sheet discusses the escalating problem of police brutality and offers possible solutions.
The rise of, and reasons for, police brutality in America
Statistics of police brutality for the past years
* Research has proven that the number of civilians killed by the police rose in 2016 and 2017 and has steadily fluctuated over the years.
* In the year 2016, 1,129 people were victims of police brutality and in 2017, this number rose by 17 people (Levinson-King, 2020).
* The causes of death included gunshot wounds, teasers, vehicles, beatings, restraining, pepper spray, brutal custodial treatment and drowning.
* Over the last 5 years, every 8 in 10 victims of police brutality died from shootings.
* Eighty of the 100 largest cities in America had at least one police killing in 2018 with the most number of cases coming from Phoenix, Houston and Los Angeles (Levinson-King, 2020). Other major cities where police brutality is common include Columbus, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Denver, Louisville, Tucson, Dallas, Laredo, Mesa, Atlanta, Austin, Kansas and New York.
Drivers of police brutality
* Cases of police brutality are often fueled by racism (Schwartz, 2020).
* The absence of laws preventing the use of lethal force in unnecessary situations is also a significant contributor to the rate of police brutality. For instance, in the United States of America, nine states do not have laws on the use of excessive force by law enforcement agencies.
* The impunity enjoyed by police officers is also a factor. Most officers are usually not held accountable for their actions and this gives them a reason to act as if they are above the law.
Absence of criminal liability on perpetrating police officers
* However, although people have been steadily dying as a result of police brutality, the convictions of the perpetrators have steadily plummeted. In fact, no officers were convicted between the year 2017 and 2018 despite the rising number of police killings.
reforms and changes addressing police brutality
In response to the escalating police brutality cases, experts have proposed seven solutions that may sufficiently address the issue (Levinson King, 2020).
Limit...