Citation

McElvain JP, Kposowa AJ. J. Crim. Justice 2004; 32(3): 265-279.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2004.02.006

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether there was a relationship between police officer characteristics (e.g., experience, race, gender, age) and internal affairs investigations for allegations of use of force. Cumulative logistic regression models were fitted to data extracted from personnel files of officers employed by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for the years 1996 through 2000. Analysis showed that officers with less than five years experience working in the Sheriff's Department had odds of being investigated for allegations of using force that were nearly 4.4 times the odds among officers with twenty or more years of experience. Officers with five to nine years experience were eight times more likely to be investigated for use of force allegations than those with twenty or more years of experience. In general, the lower the departmental experience, the higher the odds of being investigated. No significant racial disparities were observed in investigations for allegations of use of force. Officers with a history of allegations of use of force investigations were considerably more likely to be subsequently investigated for alleged uses of force. It was concluded that investigations for allegations of use of force by officers might be reduced considerably if more attention were paid to training and mentoring of new and younger officers.