Do the Ethical Issues Explain the Differential Use of Force by Police?

• In Event: Police Use of Force

Abstract

International researchers show that interactions between civil servants and citizens are expected to affect the legitimacy of relevant institutions. They identified that, contacts between citizens and police are critical for establishing social trust and police legitimacy. Procedural justice judgments regarding police authority plays a central role in shaping public perception about legitimacy. In Brazil, the excessive use of force by police is higher among black people. Based on data of a survey conducted in São Paulo city in June of 2015 the aim of this paper is: first, examine empirically whether the differential use of force by the police within different ethnic groups implies differently in the trust and in the public image associated to police. Second, examine whether and to what extent race issues explain this differential use of force when compared with indicators like age, income and neighborhood. The implications of these findings for policing and police legitimacy are then discussed.

Author

• Renato Alves, Center for the Study of Violence of the University of Sao Paulo (NEV/USP)