Complaints of police misconduct: Examining the timeliness and outcomes of internal affairs investigations

This study examined how characteristics of patrol officers and complaint cases influenced the timeliness of completing police misconduct investigations. Further, it analyzed how the timeliness of the investigation influenced the disposition and discipline of complaint investigations while controlling for relevant variables. Data were collected from a Midwestern municipal police agency for all formal complaints filed against patrol officers from 2006 to 2017. The analyses demonstrated that the nature of the complaint and number of police officers present on scene were two predictors of the timeliness of complaint investigations. This study also found that police officer and complaint characteristics were relevant predictors of the disposition and discipline outcomes of complaint investigations. Limitations and policy implications are discussed. This study contributes to the existing body of literature on complaints of police misconduct by introducing a new variable: timeliness of investigations.

Source: The Social Science Journal - May 23, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research