Types Of Police Brutality and The Damage They Cause
Police, and other kinds of law enforcement, are here to protect us and keep us safe. With all that power in hand, some individuals go beyond their limits and cause trauma, injury, and even death. Police brutality is the excessive or unwarranted use of force against civilians.
People all around the world are put into these situations where instead of feeling safe and comfortable with law enforcement, they feel like their life is threatened. Sadly, it is mostly experienced among African-Americans and Indigenous People, as well as other minorities. Although all types of police brutality can be damaging, they are not all physically violent. With that being said, here are all types of police brutality.
Use of Excessive Force By Police
This is the most common form of police brutality. Police are permitted to use necessary and reasonable force in certain situations, but many cross the line by using more force than needed. A police officer cannot injure a person who follows instructions, does not possess a weapon, and who does not act in a life-threatening way.
Examples of excessive force include:
- Choke-holds
- Baton beatings
- Unlawful use of firearms
- Unlawful take-downs
- Unwarranted tasering
Racial Discrimination
This type of police brutality can be seen in all of the other types. Many situations where excessive force is used, or someone is taken into false arrest, it can be racially aggravated. Race should not be a determining factor of whether or not someone gets injured or killed while in the hands of authority. Law enforcement agencies are meant to protect all civilians, regardless of their ethnic background.
Examples:
- Minorities are subjected to longer and more frequent searches than the white population
- Black people are 20 times more likely to be killed by police in Toronto
Wrongful Search And Seizure
In order for law enforcement to search you and your property, they need a probable cause. They can get a search warrant from a judge or court, and that entitles them to enter your home in your absence, and without your permission. However, they can search without a warrant in some situations, such as if you have been arrested for a crime, or if they have a probable cause to believe you have committed a crime.
Examples of Wrongful Search and Seizure include:
- Police conducting a strip search on a suspect who is not under arrest
- Police entering the property without a claim of emergency or warrant
False Arrest And Wrongful Imprisonment
If a police officer takes an individual into custody without a probable cause or arrest warrant, then it is considered police brutality. Fortunately, after someone suffers a false arrest, then they can receive compensation for physical injury and mental suffering.
Examples:
- Holding an individual against their will
- Taking an individual into custody without consent or legal justification
Sexual Abuse/Assault
A person who is in the custody of an officer cannot give consent to any sexual encounter, under the law. Any kind of sexual activity would be considered sexual assault. These cases are hard to report as the government does not document these cases. However, legal action may be taken against the officer if they sexually assault someone in custody.
Examples:
- Fondling or groping
- Any type of sexual intercourse
Conclusion
Police brutality is one of the devastating flaws in the system. The people who are trained to protect us, are sometimes the ones causing the most harm. Thankfully, this problem has gained lots of media attention recently, following the death of George Floyd. Police Brutality has been going on for so long, targeting certain races and genders. Hopefully, we can collectively work together, and make a change.
References:
https://justicecounts.com/personal-injury/types-of-police-brutality/
https://www.policebrutality.com/types-of-police-brutality/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/14/canada-systemic-racism-history
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/what-false-arrest.html
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/683abdaf32bb49338c29185f1c495a65
https://www.hupy.com/library/sexual-assault-and-misconduct-by-police-officers.cfm
