ABSTRACT
Consent decrees have been used to reform police organizations in the United States since the 1990s. Agencies having completed consent decrees and the data accumulated in the process, however, have rarely been examined. Meanwhile, the approach has become controversial as some see consent decrees as restrictive and costly to police and others view them as promising for improving police accountability and performance. Considering the confusion and controversies surrounding consent decrees, this chapter provides a review of related policies and practices to develop a more accurate understanding of the nature of consent decrees and the specific areas that need to be addressed to bring about meaningful changes in policing.
