The Role of Accountability in Law Enforcement: Examining Qualified Immunity

Abstract

Module 4.2 Assignment: Accountability and Ethics Explain the role of accountability in law enforcement. Assess the benefits and drawbacks of qualified immunity of police officer. Accountability comes with confidence that justice prevails in cases of crime detection, prevention, control and elimination. Accountability plays a very important role in law enforcement because it ensures that these law enforcers perform their duties through consideration and maintenance of a high standard and become held accountable/responsible in case of failure. A law enforcer must be an accountable public servant that works collaboratively, fairly and transparently with all the targets they serve. The approach of accountability involves a system of internal and external checks and balances that enhances police conduct in accordance with the set standards, ethics and principles (Indarti, 2020, Pg, 1). For this reason, accountability in police always helps them aim at upholding public trust, preventing abuse of power, protecting civil rights as well as enhancing professionalism within law enforcement agencies/departments. According to Schwartz (2020. pg, 310), qualified immunity protects police officers and government officials from being held accountable when they violate people’s rights. However, as much as qualified immunity protects law enforcers from personal liability upon such violations, does it also subject victims of such officers to some sort of injustices? Protection from personal liability and flexibility/discretion are the major benefits of qualified immunity for police officers. The two provide officers with protections in that such officers perform their work without fear of unnecessary lawsuits as well as an opportunity to exercise their discretion without any fear of being sued. However such protections can hamper their ability to deliver in ensuring effective protection for the public safety. In such a case, the protections may make such officers lack accountability which is the key in enhancing public safety and...