Assessing the Relationship Between Police Use of Force and Inmate Offending (Rule Violations)

Charles F. Klahm, Benjamin Steiner, Benjamin Meade

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

We assess the effects of exposure to police use of force on inmates’ odds of offending in prison using survey data collected from a national sample of inmates. We found, net of relevant controls, prisoners subjected to police violence were more likely to engage in assaultive and other rule violating behavior, especially those who did not resist police authority. Consistent with the cycle of violence hypothesis, our findings suggest violence perpetrated by legal authorities produces similar effects to exposure to violence in general. Moreover, the consequences of police use of force are especially problematic when the recipient fails to perceive his or her treatment was fair, which supports the theoretical perspective on procedural fairness and legitimacy. Policy implications are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)267-295
Number of pages29
JournalCrime and Delinquency
Volume63
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2017

Keywords

  • Police use of force
  • exposure to violence
  • inmate offending
  • prisons
  • procedural justice

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Law

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