Law & Social Change: Policing

This course will examine the legal framework governing police powers and duties; police use of force; the legal treatment of excessive force and the abuse of police power; the litigation of these issues in the criminal, civil, and workplace contexts; and police oversight. The course will examine issues concerning police conduct and misconduct in the context of questions about the relationship(s) between law, law enforcement,  and social change.  We will use recent policing related Inquiries/Reports to critically examine contemporary relationships between the police and the community, police and politics, police and lawyers/ legislation/ and the wider legal process. Finally, the course will focus on a number of legal strategies that have been used more or less successfully to change or reform police-community relations and police accountability.