Above the Law Police and the Excessive Use of Force (Paperback)

~ (Author), James J Fyfe (Author) "One of us was interviewed at the length about the beating of Rodney King by a thoughtful magazine reporter..." (more)
Key Phrases: civilian review agency, brutality bar, police deception, Los Angeles, New York, Rodney King (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Highly publicized cases in Los Angeles, Detroit and Nashville during the past year make this study of police violence, which is likely to become a classic in law enforcement literature, especially timely. Skolnick, a University of California law professor, and Fyfe, a former New York City police officer who teaches criminal justice at Temple University, examine vigilante justice, the practice of "third degree" interrogation and "public order" policing; in so doing they place their subject in a historical context and exhibit an awareness of the changing styles of police work. They consider factors contributing to police brutality, causes of this abusive behavior (such as the "war on drugs" mentality) and remedies. In a conclusion that may surprise some readers, they aver that police violence has decreased over the past few decades because of improved police management, particularly with increased numbers of minority mayors and police chiefs.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Berkeley law professor Skolnick and Temple University criminal justice professor and former New York City police officer Fyfe examine the problem of police violence on the street, in crowd control, and in interrogations. Although they believe that police use of excessive force has decreased somewhat in the last 20 years, it is still widespread and is aggravated by the use of the military model, police culture, and methods of police administration. They argue that police agencies need major reforms including greater accountability, openness, and professionalism and would benefit from a new vision of policing. They are troubled by some police definitions of success (based on numbers of arrests versus preventing and solving peacekeeping problems); the view of police work as war rather than enlisting constructive community support; and the mindset of the "divided nation"--police allied with the white middle class against poor inner-city nonwhites. The authors include a detailed discussion of the Los Angeles police (including the Rodney King case) and other urban police departments as well as interesting comparisons with British policing. Students of criminal justice, public policy, and law, as well as police professionals and the educated public, won't want to miss this interesting, constructive, and timely book.
- Mary Jane Brustman, SUNY at Albany Libs.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Free Press (February 7, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0029291534
• ISBN-13: 978-0029291535
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #444,218 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Liberal and biased, June 4, 2004

By	Richard M. Holbrook (Weatherford, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've read both of these author's books on the same subject. In most areas, particularly on the use of force and its assessment, these authors use speculation and assumption rather than basing conclusions on facts. Although there are facts and appropriate interviews in the book, they don't always use them in a rational way, or except to further a mostly liberal and pre-oriented opinion. While the need for police supervision is well thought out, the insight doesn't find its way into some of the other misperceptions about the incidents they discuss.

6 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book, November 24, 1998

By A Customer

If you are interested in learning about the brutality of the police force and what can be done to prevent it, I highly recommend this book