Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Journal Article Link 11.1: Smith, M. (1999). Police Pursuits: The Legal and Policy Implications of County of Sacramento V. Lewis. Police Quarterly, 2(3), 261-282.

This article examines the legal and policy implications of the recent Supreme Court decision on police pursuits in County of Sacramento v. Lewis. It explores the concept of civil liability for pursuit-related injuries under federal law, provides a detailed analysis of the Lewis decision, and helps explain why the Supreme Court ruled as it did in the case. The article also discusses police liability for pursuit-related injuries under state law and questions whether current legal doctrine denies citizens injured as the result of police pursuits a forum for their claims.

1. Summarize the author’s main point(s) in just a few sentences.
2. What potential problems does the author not address with his/her own work?
3. How would you address potential problems and/or future research recommendations that are addressed by the author?
4. Do you see any evidence of bias in the authors work or writing? If so, what is it and why do you think it is there?
5. How has this article expanded your knowledge on the subject and/or challenged your preconceptions of the subject?

Journal Article Link 11.2: Vaughn, M. (1996). Police Civil Liability and the First Amendment: Retaliation Against Citizens Who Criticize and Challenge the Police. Crime & Delinquency, 42(1), 50-75.

This article explores Section 1983 civil liability against police officers who retaliate against citizens exercising their First Amendment rights. The retaliation cases are categorized into three groups, using the standard developed by the United States Supreme Court in Mt. Healthy City School District Board of Education v. Doyle (1977). The article then identifies three defenses successfully used by police officers, and concludes that officers must develop skills in anger management and interpersonal communication, so when confronted with verbal challenges, they can de-escalate the situation without risking First Amendment liability.

1. Summarize the author’s main point(s) in just a few sentences.
2. What potential problems does the author not address with his/her own work?
3. How would you address potential problems and/or future research recommendations that are addressed by the author?
4. Do you see any evidence of bias in the authors work or writing? If so, what is it and why do you think it is there?
5. How has this article expanded your knowledge on the subject and/or challenged your preconceptions of the subject?

Journal Article Link 11.3: Lambert, E. (2003). Litigation Views among Jail Staff: An Exploratory and Descriptive Study. Criminal Justice Review, 28(1), 70-87.

The staff at a county jail in Florida were surveyed concerning their attitudes, experiences, and perceptions about civil liability. Few of the jail staff surveyed reported that they had ever been sued, and the vast majority of those who had been sued were supervisors. The likelihood of being sued increased with tenure. Slightly less than half of the jail staff believed that they had been adequately educated in civil liability or that their department would support them if they were sued in the performance of their duties. The survey found that half of the jail staff supported civil liability against public employees and agencies who harm or violate the civil rights of citizens. Most jail staff did not believe that threats of civil suits hindered their job performance. The study's findings have implications for jail administrations, particularly in terms of the need for staff training on civil liability, and support the need for additional research on jail staff as well as for comparative research on jail staff and police attitudes toward civil liability.

1. Summarize the author’s main point(s) in just a few sentences.
2. What potential problems does the author not address with his/her own work?
3. How would you address potential problems and/or future research recommendations that are addressed by the author?
4. Do you see any evidence of bias in the authors work or writing? If so, what is it and why do you think it is there?
5. How has this article expanded your knowledge on the subject and/or challenged your preconceptions of the subject?