Date of Award

5-4-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Criminal Justice

First Advisor

Tusty ten Bensel

Abstract

The decertification of police officers is an important mechanism for law enforcement accountability for those who engage in misconduct, however, we have limited knowledge on the processes and outcomes of this form of police accountability. By using a convergent mixed methods design, the purpose of this study was to understand the process in which police decertification occurs and factors that influence decertification decisions in a Southern state. The data for this study included decertification case evidence packets, observational data from decertification hearings, and in-depth qualitative interviews with commissioners involved in police officer decertification case decisions. The findings from this study provided insight into the specific elements involved in decertification procedures, as well as the factors that impact police decertification. Results revealed that the severity of misconduct, untruthfulness and law violations or physical violence impacted decertification case decisions. Findings may have implications for decertification in this state and beyond.

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