Paradox
23rd October 2005, 02:39
I've been looking into alternatives to the police for community safety so that the people can be active in their own community and basically reduce police involvement as much as possible. Also, I'm gathering information on how people should act with the cops, what the cops can and can't do, so the people know their rights, things like that to educate the community. I just started researching the idea, but I also came across information on Civilian Review Units which are supposed to serve as civilian oversight of the police. It's just basic information on how to set-up a unit that I've read so far, and I'm wondering whether it would be of any use. Does anyone have any experience with such units? If so, were they effective in any way? Did they help with complaints about the police? From what I read, they seem rather difficult to set-up, particularly because of inevitable opposition from the police department itself. And they take awhile to actually work properly, as would be expected I suppose. But what does "work properly" mean? Are they worth the effort?