A criminological assessment of police brutality and criminality against women in custody in South Africa

Abstract

In recent years, South Africa has become infamous for unacceptable high rates of police brutality and criminality. This article alludes to police brutality and criminality in general and explains women in custody's fear and experience of police brutality in South Africa. A total of 56 women were interviewed over a 6-month period to determine the level of police brutality they endured while in custody. Special attention is given to the types of crime committed, police brutality endured during custody, whether they reported the incident of police brutality to officials, as well as their general feelings and attitudes (fear) towards the police. We found that a significant number of women committed crimes such as in possession of stolen property, malicious damage to property, armed robbery and dealing in drugs. Most of the women experienced physical assault (clapping, hitting and kicking) and verbal abuse (being sworn at) while in custody.

Police Criminality: Nature and Extent of Crimes Committed by Female Police Officers

“…First, this study observed that duty status was positively associated with police crime among female police officers. In line with prior studies (Gottschalk, 2012b;Hesselink & H€ aefele, 2015;Stinson, Todak et al, 2015), and by using a multilevel modeling strategy, the current study found that on-duty female officers were more likely to commit economic crime and drug-related crime when controlling for both individual characteristics and agency background. Although further studies would be needed to identify the specific reasons behind the slippery slope process associated with serious misconduct, we argue that corrupt police behavior is primarily related to personal gain (Gottschalk, 2012b) or personal changes (Hsieh & McShane, 2021), rather than being compelled by external forces, coercion, or others when on-duty.…”

“…Furthermore, female officers did not appear to embody stereotypical feminine traits, which include more supporting and gentler behaviors (e.g., counseling a citizen to sign a formal complaint, use the formal legal process, or seek assistance from friends or relatives) during police-citizen encounters (Rabe-Hemp, 2008). Hesselink and H€ aefele's (2015) research revealed a slight increase in brutality and criminality by female officers whereby they engaged not only in the misuse of police powers and verbal abuse, but also in violent physical assaults. Stinson, Todak, and Dodge (2015) reported that aggravated assault and simple assault were two of the most frequent charges against female officers between 2005 and 2007.…”

“…In assessing the criminality of policewomen, narcotics-related crimes, such as dealing in drugs and possession of drugs, were another type of police crime commonly committed on-duty by female officers (Hesselink & H€ aefele, 2015). Drug-related offenses are also listed as one of the top five most frequent charges leveled against female officers (Stinson, Todak, et al, 2015).…”

From the Editor-in-Chief

“…Since 2012, IPES has organized special panels on rights of women under the auspices of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in the United Nations in New York. Notably, the interest and desire to combat this global epidemic (Hesselink & Haefele, 2015;Diemer, Ross, Humphreys, & Healey, 2017) has been clearly undertaken by IPES. This trend will continue with a PPR Special Issue pertaining to violence against women and children to inform scholars and practitioners around the world on best practices in combatting it, as well as to strengthen an overall increase in global conscience to recognize the right to be safe from abuse is a human right.…”