Treatment of Illegal-Use-of-Force Complaints Against Police Officers in Israel: the Beleaguered Path To Civilian Involvement

Abstract

In 1992, a new civilian board was established in Israel for the investigation of complaints against police officers accused of violence. The decision to transfer these investigative powers to an external body was preceded by prolonged negotiation between police representatives and various civilian bodies commissioned to review internal police processes. Such negotiations can be typi fied by a cyclical dynamic: public and political pressure, civilian interven tion, the publishing of a very critical report on police treatment of complaints, and recommendations for changes. Thereafter, following police opposition, the recommendations are adopted, but only in part, and the situation improves, pending the next crisis. The present research describes the development of the treatment of illegal-use-of-force complaints against police officers in Israel according to this negotiating dynamic.