There are many good reasons to prosecute those who use excessive force. The American criminal justice system is designed to make it extremely difficult to convict officers operating under color of authority. AdvertisementCivil lawsuits also won’t solve the problem of excessive force, though they have brought some financial relief to families of those killed by police. But, while lawsuits can provide family members with compensation, monetary judgments cannot bring back loved ones — and they do almost nothing to disincentivize future uses of excessive force. True police reform requires examining why officers who have used excessive force remain in their jobs.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 23, 2020 21:22 UTC