Police departments around the country are on the defensive because of accusations of abuse of authority. Los Angeles is being rocked by a corruption scandal involving planted evidence and shooting unarmed suspects. New York City officers have been convicted of torturing a suspect and covering up the crime but acquitted in the shooting death of an unarmed civilian. State and local law enforcement agencies are accused of using “racial profiling” in traffic stops. Critics say stronger controls are needed. Law enforcement groups say most police obey the law and that the abuses are being exaggerated. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to consider a controversial law aimed at partly overturning the famous Miranda decision on police interrogation.

Kenneth Jost is Supreme Court editor, CQ Press; associate editor, CQ Researcher; and author of The Supreme Court Yearbook since the 1992-1993 edition.