Perceptions of Police Conduct Regarding Constitutional Issues Amongst the Defense Bar

• In Event: Perceptions of Justice and Law

Abstract

Examining police conduct regarding 4th and 5th Amendment protections is a critical step toward understanding the nature of police interactions with detained individuals and a prerequisite to effective policy reform. Given their relationship with criminal defendants and detainees, as well as other courtroom actors, criminal defense attorneys are uniquely positioned to provide probative information from multiple angles. Yet, to date, data sources exploring these perspectives are limited. Using data gathered during qualitative interviews with criminal defense attorneys, as well as an electronic survey administered to defense attorneys in two states in the Northeastern United States, this paper explores perceptions of the defense bar regarding police conduct related to police stops, searches, seizures and interrogations.

Authors

• Esther Nir, New Jersey City University

• Siyu Liu, Pennsylvania State University