Police accountability

Police accountability comprises systems that review police conduct and performance and impose correction, discipline, or other remedies. It includes internal oversight, independent review, legal processes, and public scrutiny.

Civilian complaint review board: A public body that receives or reviews complaints about police conduct, with powers varying by jurisdiction. These boards provide a route for public complaints outside police departments.
Police department: A public agency responsible for law enforcement within a defined jurisdiction. Departments are the institutions whose conduct and performance accountability examines.
Criminal prosecution: A government legal proceeding that seeks to establish a defendant's guilt and impose criminal penalties. Prosecution can punish unlawful conduct but does not replace administrative review.
Police legitimacy: The public's belief that police authority is rightful and should be obeyed. Fair, credible review can affect whether communities regard police authority as legitimate.
Internal affairs: A police unit that investigates alleged misconduct by officers or other department personnel. Department investigations are a common first stage of police discipline.
Police oversight: The monitoring and review of police conduct by internal or external bodies. Oversight is the broader institutional framework for accountability.
Civil lawsuit: A legal action in which a claimant seeks a remedy for an alleged violation of rights or other injury. Civil claims can provide remedies independently of a department's disciplinary process.
Procedural justice: The perceived fairness of the processes authorities use to make decisions and treat people. Transparent and impartial complaint handling reflects procedural justice.
Police misconduct: Improper conduct by police personnel, including unlawful force, corruption, or violations of policy. Accountability systems identify and address alleged misconduct.
Civil rights: Legal protections against discrimination and violations of fundamental freedoms by governments and other actors. Civil-rights law sets standards for police conduct and remedies for violations.

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