Police brutality is generally considered to be unlawful, excessive, or unreasonable use of physical force against a private citizen by a law enforcement officer in the performance of that officer's duties. Although its existence is not debated, there is disagreement about when the use of force becomes unreasonable or excessive and how frequently this occurs. The causes of police brutality are generally thought to be part of the “War on Crime” mentality, police insularity, and an elitist attitude among special police units.

Evaluation of Police Brutality

The extent and frequency of police brutality in the United States is impossible to assess with any accuracy. Brutality victims fail to file complaints for a variety of reasons, and there is no central or national repository for brutality and misconduct ...

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