Chicago Criminal Defense Blog

There are times when it is understandable that the police have to use force on someone because of their actions or because others are in danger. However, there are many instances in which police officers misuse their powers.Interestingly, there is no universally accepted definition for the use of force. It is up to the discretion of the authorities to determine how much force is acceptable in any given situation.

The use of force is acceptable when it is necessary. For instance, it is accepted when the officer has to protect themselves. Is also acceptable in a situation where they have to defend another person or a group.

Police in the United States are generally permitted to use lethal force when the situation requires it. In other words, they may need to use lethal force to protect their own lives or the lives of others. In other circumstances, police need to use other less violent means to enforce the law.

The problem is, the line of when lethal force is necessary and/or required can be a fuzzy one. Numerous lives have been lost because of the lack of clarity on this issue, and numerous police have walked free of any consequences for their actions as a result. The bottom line is that a lot of people die in the United States every year as a result of police-caused killings and the problem doesn't seem to be getting better.

There are a number of fatal shootings of black people by police within the United States in the media presently. The problem with this can't be understated, but there is an issue. There is very little information on how racial bias impacts fatal police shootings, and because of that, it's complicated to define the true impact race has on law enforcement.

Some studies show that there is an intentional bias. Other evidence points to implicit bias. Whatever kind there may be, the fact is that those of color could face a higher likelihood of being fatally shot or mistreated by police.

The movement to protect black citizens from police brutality has been notable. While African-Americans have long protested against instances of police brutality, it hasn't been until the rise in smartphones and videos posted online to Youtube and Facebook that other communities across of America have become aware of the issue.

Chicagoans are not likely surprised by the above statistic, compiled by the Tampa Bay Times, which analyzed police shootings in Florida from 2009 through 2014. Comprehensive reporting on this issue is difficult, and usually involves anecdotal stories that often capture the attention of the nation for a few days or weeks after the shooting.