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Vol. 107, Issue 4

Article

Cop Tracing

Jonathan Abel, Associate Professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

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14 Aug 2022

What happens to an officer’s old cases when that officer is exposed as corrupt? Often, the answer is nothing. This Article calls for “cop tracing”: an effort to identify and investigate the past cases handled by dishonest cops. The Article first describes the existing action and inaction with respect to such tracing. Next, it examines the logistical and legal barriers to cop tracing. Finally, the Article considers the implications of cop tracing’s absence. The failure to engage in cop tracing is symptomatic of the failure to see the misconduct of even a single bad officer in systemic terms.

To read this Article, please click here: Cop Tracing.