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Is It an Inside Job?

An Examination of Internal Affairs Complaint Investigation Files and the Production of Nonsustained Findings

Bowling Green State University, Ohio

Lorenzo M. Boyd

Fayetteville State University, NC

Robert W. Taylor

University of North Texas, Denton

Soraya K. Kawucha

University of North Texas, Denton

Data concerning the internal investigation of complaints against police have rarely been available to researchers. The present study uses information derived through an examination of Internal Affairs complaint investigation files obtained from a large Midwestern police agency in order to examine issues related to the processing of complaints against the police. The article includes an overview of existing literature concerning citizen complaints and internal complaint review structures. Data are presented concerning complainants and accused officers, investigative findings, and the factors cited by investigators in order to justify their findings. Issues regarding the interpretation of sustain rates for citizen complaints are discussed, as well as suggested improvements for the internal review of complaints against the police.

Key Words: complaints against police • internal a fairs units • police complaint review

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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Liederbach, J. Articles by Kawucha, S. K. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?