Using Police as Custodial Officers: An Analysis from the Perspective of International Human Rights Standards

Abstract

This study explores the situation in which police officers are responsible for the care of prisoners. International human rights standards require these persons to have special expertise. Do police officers have such expertise? If not, then the use of police as custodial officers may violate prisoners' human rights. Police officers were interviewed in a sample taken in 10 nations from the 6 populated continents of the world. Results of the study suggest that the use of police officers in an extended custodial capacity may increase the likelihood of human rights violations, as set forth in United Nations agreements. The authors call for further research on the extent to which prisoners are being guarded by police officers across the world, and the outcomes that this situation creates for the incarcerated persons under their care.