Presentation-- Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable

Since the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis in 2020, police misconduct and brutality, and questions about how such problems intersect with race and other demographic characteristics, have finally appeared on the country’s radar screen. Although the need for radical change is long overdue, not much has been done, despite its urgency.In her talk based on her new book, Shielded, Joanna Schwartz will address the challenges of police reform, its legal dimensions, and what can be done to reduce unjustified police violence.

Professor Schwartz is Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law and one of the country’s leading experts on police misconduct litigation. Her recent scholarship includes articles empirically examining the justifications for qualified immunity doctrine, the financial impact of settlements and judgments on federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and agency budgets, and regional variation in civil rights protections across the country.

Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable

October 6th

3:00pm-5:00pm

Bldg. 180, Rm. 107

Email Professor Den Otter if you have any questions: denotter@calpoly.edu