After conducting a survey of all detention officers in Maricopa County, Arizona, the author concludes that five variables within the work environment-authority, fear of victimization, institutional operations, quality of supervision, and role ambiguity-have a significant direct and/or indirect effect on an officer's willingness to use force. The findings suggest that an officer's perception of interactions and/or relationships with inmates and supervisory personnel are more influential in the use of force than the officer's perceptions of the larger organization, or his/her individual personality.

"This 127-page report details incidents in which correctional staff have deluged prisoners with painful chemical sprays, shocked them with powerful electric stun weapons, and strapped them for days in restraining chairs or beds. Staff have broken prisoners' jaws, noses, ribs; left them with lacerations requiring stitches, second-degree burns, deep bruises, and damaged internal organs. In some cases, the force used has led to their death"--Publisher's website, as viewed June 1, 2015.

The Psychology of Police Deadly Force Encounters: Science, Practice, and Police is a fascinating look into the reality of police work. The author integrates noted theories into a “street-wise” understanding of being a police officer. The focus of this book is on the use of deadly force by officers—a topic of considerable importance. The author discusses the psychosocial aspects of deadly force use, stemming from the individual officer, the situation, organizational influences, and the police culture. Expanding further into social issues, the controversial topic of race and use of deadly force is discussed. This depiction looks at both sides—that of racial victimization and that of the police—which helps to provide a rather unique perspective on this important issue. Of interest, the author breaks down the different dimensions of cognition as a factor in decision making among police, including the perception of the situation, the action taken depending on that perception, and the role of present and past memory. This will make for a useful training topic to alert officers to the cognitive processes that go into deadly force use—processes that they have the control to change to make a better decision. Next, the book delves into the biological factors that may be involved in police decision making—again where deadly force is involved. The various negative psychological impacts that a deadly force situation may bring about are identified and explained. This book will be useful as a tool for both law enforcement practitioners and researchers to better understand the intricacies of deadly force by the police. For researchers, the book has a multitude of references available for further exploration. It will prove to be a useful guide and reference volume for police managers and supervisors, mental health clinicians, investigators, attorneys, judges, law enforcement educators and trainers, rank and file police officers, including expert witnesses.

In the past three decades, international and regional human rights bodies have developed an ever-lengthening list of measures that states are required to adopt in order to prevent torture. But do any of these mechanisms actually work? This study is the first systematic analysis of the effectiveness of torture prevention. Primary research was conducted in 16 countries, looking at their experience of torture and prevention mechanisms over a 30-year period. Data was analysed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques. Prevention measures do work, although some are much more effective than others. Most important of all are the safeguards that should be applied in the first hours and days after a person is taken into custody. Notification of family and access to an independent lawyer and doctor have a significant impact in reducing torture. The investigation and prosecution of torturers and the creation of independent monitoring bodies are also important in reducing torture. An important caveat to the conclusion that prevention works is that is actual practice in police stations and detention centres that matters - not treaties ratified or laws on the statute book.

Sets out to identify the most pressing issues affecting the correctional system today. Maintaining a solutions-focus, the book organizes problems into two distinct categories: those impacting the convicts and correctional facilities and those impacting the correctional officers and administrators. It examines long-standing, and emerging issues from a critical perspective, grounding discussion in empirical research and current events. Using the consistent voice of a single author, the book offers a no nonsense approach to explaining the problems of correctional officers, correctional managers, prisoners, and the public.

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.