Overview
Many issues in the United States are focused on the application of force in the field of law enforcement. Questions have been raised as to whether criminal justice professionals are applying the least amount of force necessary to gain compliance from an unwilling subject. Because of several recent controversies surrounding the use of deadly force and the treatment of individuals in police custody, many members of society have been extremely critical of the use of force. These controversial issues have created a negative public perception of law enforcement officers, and there have been demonstrations and calls for reform in both the training and hiring of police officers.
For this assignment, you will first read and analyze the Graham v. Connor court decision. This decision is the seminal case that articulates when and how use-of-force situations will be reviewed and judged. As you read the case, consider who the key stakeholders are (police officers, police departments, citizens, etc.) in the controversy and how this issue impacts the field of criminal justice.
Prompt
After reading the case, write a brief in which you address the elements listed below. This case brief will help you address the impact of similar decisions in studying your own issue analysis for the final project. Set up your brief as the sample case brief is set up, and include the answers to the questions in the Analysis section of the brief.
Facts: State the facts of the case and why the case went to trial.
Issue: State what is at issue in the case.
Ruling: State the court’s ruling in the case.
Analysis: This section contains the bulk of the brief. In your analysis, address the following:
In this case, what standard did the court use to determine whether the use of force was reasonable? For instance, what did the court say about judging the objective reasonableness of the use of force?
What perspective did the court use in determining whether the officer acted appropriately in the use of force? What did the court say about using hindsight to determine objective reasonableness?
What strategies do you believe should be employed to make sure officers are applying the correct amount of force in any given situation?
Analyze the connection between the issue of use of force and what criminological theory contributed to the understanding—or misunderstanding—of these issues.
Conclusion: Conclude the case brief by summarizing your analysis.
Reference your textbook reading as well as the case material in your submission. To facilitate this task, refer to the Sample Case Brief document.
What to Submit
Your submission should be at least 1 page in length (in addition to title and reference pages). It should use single spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Follow APA style for in-text citations and the reference list.