Deadly force, colonialism, and the rule of law : police violence in Guyana / Joan R. Mars.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mars, Joan R., 1954-

Series:

Contributions in comparative colonial studies ; no. 46.

Contributions in comparative colonial studies, 0163-3813 ; no. 46

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Police brutality--Guyana--History.

Police brutality.

Police--Guyana--History.

Police.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (221 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Distribution:

London : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2024

Place of Publication:

Westport, Conn. : Praeger, c2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In post-colonial countries such as Guyana, the legacy of colonialism and its influence on policing and society is of crucial significance in developing an explanation for police violence and police-caused homicide. Mars applies a contextual approach, grounded in the conflict theoretical perspective, to explain and understand variations in police violence over time, and she extends her study to include the social, political, and legal structure in which such actions are embedded. Her findings support the notion that police violence is a function of decades of coercive state rule under British colonialism, as well as the state's legitimization of violence in police work.In this first study on police violence and homicide in Guyana, Mars presents and analyzes data covering a 14-year period. She also provides comparative and descriptive information on the use of excessive and deadly force by the police, and, in addition, discusses laws relating to such incidents. Mars finds little support for the community violence hypothesis in reference to Guyana and concludes instead that the level of violence in the community and the everyday dangers of police work does not significantly influence the rates of police-caused homicide in that country.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Figures and Tables

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Abbreviations

1 Contextual and Theoretical Framework

2 Research Design and Methods

3 The Social and Political History of Guyana

4 The Evolution of Policing in Colonial Guyana

5 The SocioÒ Political Environment and the Rule of Law

6 Contemporary Police Violence in Guyana

7 Discussion and Conclusions: The Contextual Approach

Appendix A Geographical Map of Guyana

Appendix B Twenty- four Cases of Police-caused Homicide in Guyana, 1980 to 1994

Selected Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9798400638107

9786610468782

9781280468780

1280468785

9780313012723

0313012725

OCLC:

614662953