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Citizen Oversight on Policing - Literature Review


Wells and Schafer used data collected from a previous larger research projects and distributed paper and pencil surveys to all sworn officers of Carbondale Police Department in Illinois, which yielded an 84% response rate. The number of officers surveyed was not disclosed in their study. According to Wells and Schafer, the survey questions posed in the Carbondale study were general and used a six-point scale to rate the overall views on oversight committees, they contend that missing data had no impact on the findings (Wells & Schafer, 2007). Similarly, the study conducted by Wilson and Buckler offered general questions and measured responses by rating the overall presence of an oversight committee and added the variable of race to further breakdown the results. The authors note that the current study is limited by the LEMAS data collected in that it does not categorize the types of oversight committee models and their respective authorities (Wilson & Buckler, 2010). Neither study narrowed the survey down enough to determine whether or not effectiveness was a reason in favoring or opposing civilian oversight committees. However, both studies confirmed that resistance by law enforcement officers and police unions' alike, department budgets, and geographical location are all contributing factors that hinder the implementation of civilian oversight committees. Both studies explain that civilian oversight committees are not as successful as they could be and acknowledge that both parties, unions and officers, play a pivotal role in limiting the potential effectiveness and powers of oversight committees.
             Determined by the results calculated through Wilson and Buckler's study, oversight committees are primarily established in response to misconduct and highly publicized events involving law enforcement. The study yielded an outcome that in geographical areas where misconduct is less frequent, it is less likely that an oversight committee will emerge and therefore determining the effectiveness is not applicable.


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