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Is it possible to bring private prosecutions in the US? In the UK I believe you could criminal-charge these guys yourself with sufficient funds. I am no longer

Is it possible to bring private prosecutions in the US? In the UK I believe you could criminal-charge these guys yourself with sufficient funds. I am no longer shocked or surprised when I read stories about US cops like this: it seems a massive stain on the USA internationally. I'm sad (but not surprised) that no politicians in the presidential election are making a big deal of it.

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talmand 10y ago
I'm not shocked at reports of corrupt police officers anywhere in the world; why is it any different to you because you hear of it in the US?
- tehwalrus 10y ago
  Because they kill people at an astonishing rate compared to the rest of the developed world: more people in a day than the UK in a year (and only having about 6x the population). https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/09/the-counted-police-killings-us-vs-other-countries https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/09/the-counted-...
  - talmand 10y ago
    That's a completely different topic and problem though. There are several reasons as to why such a difference happens. It's not that every police shooting is because of police corruption. edit: thank you for the link, it was an interesting article. Although, I think many of the comparisons with the US are inherently flawed. It's still interesting to see the stats.
    - Gustomaximus 10y ago
      Worth noting even if a shooting is 'justified' it doesn't mean you have to do it. This also explains the gap, not just illegal shootings. The US police appear to have a zero risk tolerence or desire to de-escalate.
- ChoHag 10y ago
  Well the US are rather good at it.
- Zigurd 10y ago
  Police in the US are relatively clean. It's rare to be able to bribe your way out of a ticket. Depending on local customs, that can be commonplace. But your not going to get beaten or shot. In the US corruption like this is attendant to the high brutality level and militarization of police.
MatthewWilkes 10y ago
Private prosecutions in the UK are at the discretion of the director of public prosecutions. Specifically, the CPS can take a private prosecution over and then discontinue it. They will do this if the prosecution is not considered to be "in the public interest"

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talmand 10y ago

I'm not shocked at reports of corrupt police officers anywhere in the world; why is it any different to you because you hear of it in the US?

tehwalrus 10y ago
Because they kill people at an astonishing rate compared to the rest of the developed world: more people in a day than the UK in a year (and only having about 6x the population). https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/09/the-counted-police-killings-us-vs-other-countries https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/09/the-counted-...
- talmand 10y ago
  That's a completely different topic and problem though. There are several reasons as to why such a difference happens. It's not that every police shooting is because of police corruption. edit: thank you for the link, it was an interesting article. Although, I think many of the comparisons with the US are inherently flawed. It's still interesting to see the stats.
  - Gustomaximus 10y ago
    Worth noting even if a shooting is 'justified' it doesn't mean you have to do it. This also explains the gap, not just illegal shootings. The US police appear to have a zero risk tolerence or desire to de-escalate.
ChoHag 10y ago
Well the US are rather good at it.
Zigurd 10y ago
Police in the US are relatively clean. It's rare to be able to bribe your way out of a ticket. Depending on local customs, that can be commonplace. But your not going to get beaten or shot. In the US corruption like this is attendant to the high brutality level and militarization of police.

MatthewWilkes 10y ago

Private prosecutions in the UK are at the discretion of the director of public prosecutions. Specifically, the CPS can take a private prosecution over and then discontinue it. They will do this if the prosecution is not considered to be "in the public interest"