Psychological Factors

• Some theories argue there are psychological factors inherent in the causes of police brutality. The stereotype of the bad apple or rogue cop has largely been disavowed but studies suggest some personality traits can lead to the use of excessive force. Personality disorders, personal problems, past job related trauma, and young inexperienced macho officers who learn inappropriate patrol styles all fit into this category, but they fail to completely explain police brutality.
  
  

Organizational Factors

• The policies and environment of a police organization are highly significant contributors to police brutality. For example, in the Rodney King beating incident the Los Angeles Police Department used force within the acceptable parameters established by the organization. The LAPD policy left it up to the discretion of the individual officers leaving an open window for potential abuse. The organization plays a key role in whether at-risk officers will respond abusively or not.
  
  

Racial Profiling

• Racial profiling continues to be widely practiced in the U.S. despite its illegality and is connected to police brutality. Racial profiling assumes guilt for a crime based on the presumed criminality of people of certain racial characteristics, with African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans disproportionately affected. This raises the question of racism and to what extent it's responsible for police brutality.
  
  

Criminality

• The use of excess force on civilians is a criminal offense because it violates state laws, federal laws, constitutional rights, and police laws as well. Brutality is a form of white collar, occupational crime because the offending officer is operating in the function of his legitimate occupation. Police departments seldom punish officers severely for excessive use of force, contributing to the perpetuation of this form of criminal behavior, critics say.