Police brutality is one of the most serious, enduring and divisive human rights violations in the United States. Unjustified shootings by police, severe beatings, fatal chokings, and unnecessarily rough treatment of detainees occur in cities throughout the country. Despite promises of reform following high-profile incidents, abusive treatment by police officers persists because systems presumably designed to hold officers accountable instead, in practice, often allow them to escape punishment of any kind.