Is It an Inside Job? An Examination of Internal Affairs Complaint Investigation Files and the Production of Nonsustained Findings.

Source: (2007) Criminal Justice Policy Review. 18(4):353-377.

Data concerning the internal investigation of complaints against police have rarely been
available to researchers. The present study uses information derived through an examination
of Internal Affairs complaint investigation files obtained from a large
Midwestern police agency in order to examine issues related to the processing of complaints
against the police. The article includes an overview of existing literature concerning
citizen complaints and internal complaint review structures. Data are presented
concerning complainants and accused officers, investigative findings, and the factors
cited by investigators in order to justify their findings. Issues regarding the interpretation
of sustain rates for citizen complaints are discussed, as well as suggested improvements
for the internal review of complaints against the police. (author’s abstract)