Building on the strength of previous editions, the fourth edition presents a well-conceived, clearly stated analysis of complex issues confronting law enforcement officers and administrators. Law enforcement duties sometimes place police officers in vulnerable positions regarding their legal obligations and expose them to charges of misconduct. Civil liability is an extremely expensive proposition for police officers, law enforcement agencies, governments, andultimatelytaxpayers. Although substantial resources are often expended by the justice system to resolve liability cases, there are benefits to citizens. When the government assumes the responsibility to provide service or to protect the public, people injured by inadequate performance of those responsibilities deserve compensation; innocent parties who suffer injury should have an avenue for redress. The potential for litigation has been an impetus for better training and more responsible practices. Another excellent resource on the topic, Kappelers edited volume of Supreme Court cases, Police Civil Liability, Second Edition, allows students to understand firsthand the legal reasoning behind Court decisions dealing with these same issues.

This text indicates law, administrative practice, and police operations have become so intertwined that police administrators can no longer be effective without understanding the principles of civil liability. The text addresses the impact of judicial decisions on issues confronting police officers, such as use of force, high- risk drug enforcement operations, abandoning citizens in dangerous places, negligent operation of emergency vehicles, failure to arrest intoxicated drivers, negligence at accident scenes, and death and suicide in detention. Findings of police science research are incorporated into legal discussions to place the law in a context meaningful to police officers and executives. The text also covers the scope and impact of police civil liability, fundamentals of State tort law and Federal liability law, and shifting concepts of police civil liability and law enforcement. A list of cases is included.

The thirty-five Supreme Court cases in the second edition provide a solid, accessible foundation for understanding civil liability law and its impact on policing operations and management. This convenient resource also includes a brief review of the basics of judicial reasoning and a short introduction on how to brief cases. These materials and the discussion questions at the end of each section help readers understand the process of legal inquiry and analysis and the changing nature of police civil liability law. An excellent complement to Kappelers text Critical Issues in Police Civil Liability, Fourth Edition!

For the first time, a comprehensive text has brought together the major topics concerning police liability. It is written from the perspective of a ten-year police veteran - written by a cop for cops. It will help the average cop understand and cope with a frightening area of today's society, as well as help current and future police administrators under stand how to deal with civil liability. Today's police officer is twenty times more likely to be sued than to be shot. Yet, the average police officer has received a hundred times more training on fire arms use than in learning how to protect oneself from the civil lawsuit. With the number of lawsuits against individual officers and departments on the rise, we can no longer ignore the need to educate ourselves against the threat of civil liability. This book acts as a road map of basic training to find the way through the labyrinth of our civil justice system. No other book attacks the problem of understanding the growing theories of police civil liability. Whether used in a college classroom, academy, or personal library, this is must reading for every police officer working today. Those who arm themselves in this knowledge area can survive the horrendous attacks by money-hungry litigants and will be better prepared to lead the law enforcement community into the next century.

The increasing litigation against criminal justice practitioners in the United States poses a significant problem for law enforcement and other personnel. Law enforcement and corrections professionals need to have a working knowledge of both criminal law and the civil law process to ensure that they are performing their duties within the limits of the law. Civil Liability in Criminal Justice, 7th Edition, provides valuable information and recommendations to current and future officers and correctional system employees, introducing them to civil liability and federal law, as well as recommending strategies that can be taken to minimize risks. Civil Liability in Criminal Justice is unique in its combination of applicable case law and related liability research, while still providing an overview of current case law in high-liability areas. This new edition, revised to include up-to-date United States Supreme Court cases, including liability trends on the use of force, arrest-related deaths, custodial suicides in detention, qualified immunity, and the outcomes of the Department of Justice and the application of Section 14141, additional context for liability issues, and extended coverage of collective bargaining and public perception, is a valuable resource for enhancing student knowledge and practitioner job performance. The text is suitable for undergraduate and graduate courses in Criminal Justice programs as well as for in-service and academy training. Ross offers an engaging, accessible introduction to this aspect of the US criminal justice system.

Close to 60,000 civil lawsuits are filed annually against criminal justice practitioners. This increasing litigation poses a significant problem for law enforcement and other personnel who must ensure they are performing their legal duties within the boundaries of case law. In brief, they not only need a working knowledge of criminal law but a firm grasp on the civil law process as well. Civil Liability in Criminal Justice provides valuable advice and protection to future officers and correctional system employees, introducing them to civil liability generally and the federal law specifically, while indicating steps that can be taken to minimize risks. The text clearly outlines the specific precedents to which both individual staff members and entire agencies must adhere and provides court decisions in common and high liability areas. This text is now one of very few on the subject that combines applicable case law and related liability research, a valuable new feature for current and future policy makers and managers. It also provides an overview of current case law in high liability areas, enhancing student knowledge and practitioner job performance. What's more, newly equipped with a much enhanced ancillary package, Civil Liability in Criminal Justice now offers support to both students and their instructors as they work to master this complex topic. Exercises based on ethical dilemmas and evidence-based assessments of likely trouble spots in organizational training and policy prepare the reader to avoid costly legal action in the complex worlds of policing and corrections. Hundreds of cases are referenced throughout the text, including the latest US Supreme Court decisions in civil liability suits against police and corrections officers and their agencies Provides richly documented research findings regarding recent trends in litigation and financial penalties Includes current thinking on avoiding lawsuits through training and policy development.

In the field of law enforcement in the United States, it is essential to know the contemporary problems being faced and combine that knowledge with empirical research and theoretical reasoning to arrive at best practices and an understanding of policing. Policing in America, Eighth Edition, provides a thorough analysis of the key issues in policing today, and offers an issues-oriented discussion focusing on critical concerns such as personnel systems, organization and management, operations, discretion, use of force, culture and behavior, ethics and deviance, civil liability, and police-community relations. A critical assessment of police history and the role politics played in the development of American police institutions is also addressed, as well as globalization, terrorism, and homeland security. This new edition not only offers updated research and examples, it also incorporates more ways for the reader to connect to the content through learning objectives, discussion questions, and "Myths and Realities of Policing" boxes. Video and Internet links provide additional coverage of important issues. With completely revised and updated chapters, Policing in America, Eighth Edition provides an up-to-date examination of what to expect as a police officer in America.