Critical Issues in Police Civil Liability, Third Edition [Paperback]

Victor E. Kappeler (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1577661869 | ISBN-13: 978-1577661863 | Publication Date: April 18, 2001 | Edition: 3rd

As we embark on a new millennium, there is a growing concern about the misconduct of police officers in U.S. society and a well-evidenced trend toward suing law enforcement officials for acts of misconduct and abuse of authority. Today, it is more important than ever before for individuals involved in the administration and operations of criminal justice agencies--those responsible for creating or implementing policies and practices--to understand the principles of civil liability. This concise, well-organized text integrates civil law, social science, and police studies, providing an easy-to-understand analysis of the impact of legal decisions on issues confronting law enforcement officers and administrators.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Title of related interest also from Waveland Press: Kappeler, Police Civil Liability: Supreme Court Cases and Materials (ISBN 1577661877).

Product Details

• Paperback: 221 pages
• Publisher: Waveland Pr Inc; 3rd edition (April 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577661869
• ISBN-13: 978-1577661863
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,261,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Victor E. Kappeler is Foundation Professor and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice in the College of Justice and Safety at Eastern Kentucky University. He received his Ph.D. from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. He is the author of numerous books on policing and criminology including, Forces of Deviance, Constructing Crime, Police and Society, Critical Issues in Police Civil Liability, Community Policing, and The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice. He is widely published in academic and scientific journals among them are Social Problems, Justice Quarterly, Journal of Criminal Justice, and Criminal Law Bulletin. Dr. Kappeler has received numerous awards by both academic institutions and governmental agencies for his contributions to criminal justice.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Kappeler doesn't like bad outcomes or the police very much, January 3, 2003

By 

Thomas "Tom" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Critical Issues in Police Civil Liability, Third Edition (Paperback)

This book was required reading for our department's Sgt's exam. In the aspect of defining current(at the time of publishing, now out of date) civil liability and being informative it was an excellent book. An example, the outlining of the differences between federal claims versus state claims was excellent. Most officers and administrators dont know the difference. His discussion on negligence claims was informative.

However, when Mr. Kappeler makes certain policy statements in the book, they are generally his, not a true discussion of the issue. Example, should police officers be held liable for not arresting dui's, he generally favors a finding of liability, and does not discuss the actor's, the drunk drivers, own culpability in the whole act. Furthermore, he does not discuss the facts of each case enough to give true insight into what constitutes tortable police conduct. Instead, you are left with the general feeling that failing to arrest dui drivers leads to liability, etc. Mr. Kappeler gave the impression that he favored police liability because it helps the victims, ie cash compensation. At the same time, he doesn't discuss, how difficult it is to actually do the job, policing, hence, I think he is not very objective and anti-police.

Plaintiff's lawyers will love this book. Anyone who has been an officer long knows why the plaintiff's lawyers want the police to be liable, because, they have the deep pockets, hence big fees.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A critical book for sucessful law officers to read and know., March 21, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Tacoma, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Critical Issues in Police Civil Liability (Paperback)

As a career law officer and University instructor, I have not only used this book to increase my personal knowledge but have chosen it to teach Criminal Justice classes. The information contained in the book gives important analysis of the evergrowing concern of lawsuits against the police in our litigation prone society. Kappeler provides an easy to understand format containing the crucial areas of concern for not only newly recruited officers but for veterans as well. The paperback book is very affordable and should be considered required reading for officers around the country. If you have not guessed by now... I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in enhancing or safeguarding their career in law enforcement.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eye Opening and Thoroughly Depressing, July 12, 2002

By 

Stephen Hirjak (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Critical Issues in Police Civil Liability, Third Edition (Paperback)

I can summarize this book in 10 words:
The less work you do, the less liable you are.

This book chronicles many lawsuits that police departments around the country have faced. The sad part is that the main point repeated in case after case is that, if the police ignored what they saw and simply drove past the person in need or the crime they witnessed, they wouldn't have lost the lawsuit.

I found this book depressing, as case after case showed that, if a criminal is committing a crime and they sue, they just might hit the jackpot (or if they kill themselves fleeing or fighting with the police, their families may hit the jackpot). Sadly, the author points out his socialistic leanings by stating that he believes that society as a whole should have to shoulder the burden of one person's damages, be they real or simply emotional.

This text also reminds officers of the fact that the law does not see police officers as people, but as an evil entity that has forfeited the same civil rights that other Amercian citizens take for granted. This book even explicitly states that police officers "do not give up all civil rights" and that they retain some, as if the oath of office states that they are no longer American citizens.

America needs to read this book and learn that they are getting less and less likely to actually receive help from the police due to these lawsuits.

Overall, the book was entertaining (despite its depressing analysis of the law) to read. Most of the book recounts actual cases which makes it a much easier text to read than most books focusing on law. I just felt, after reading this, that I am the only one who sees the impending decline of civilization and that I envision a totally lawless society, as the system just keeps punishing the government for other peoples' wrongs. It just seems that the public doesn't understand that they are only punishing themselves (who do they think pay these settlements and with each ridiculous succesful lawsuit, do they think that the police will stop to help?..as one case from this book shows, an officer was at fault because he stopped to help a stranded motorist and another motorist hit him, but that if he didn't stop to help, the guy receiving assistance couldn't have sued when he was hit).