Identify the potential barriers to an effective citizen complaint process, and why this is a barrier to fighting police corruption and misconduct.

What will be an ideal response?


There are a number of potential barriers to providing an effective citizen complaint process. First, many departments require citizens to file a “penalty for perjury” form, which may deter some individuals from filing complaints. Many jurisdictions require complaints to be filed in person, which may cause apprehension on the part of the complaining citizen. Finally, many jurisdictions do not accept complaints filed on by third parties, lawyers, or juveniles. Collectively these filing requirements serve as potential barriers to citizen complaints, and as such many incidents of corruption or misconduct may go unreported. Conversely, if the citizen complaint process is accommodating, and made easier, more complaints may be filed. More complaints do not necessarily speak to the quality of the police work, but rather to the citizens’ ability to voice concerns. If officers are aware that very few complaints will be filed, they are free to act with relative impunity.

Criminal Justice

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