According to the WSJ, more "More U.S. police officers have been charged with crimes for deadly on-duty shootings in 2015 than in any year going back a decade. But not a single officer has been convicted of murder or manslaughter this year.
Experts say bringing such cases remains challenging for prosecutors, with judges and juries loath to second-guess decisions made by police in the line of duty. . . .Twelve police officers have been charged with manslaughter or murder for on-duty fatal shootings this year, already more than twice the average of about five annually in the past decade, according to research by Philip Stinson, an associate professor of criminal justice at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. The tally excludes the six Baltimore officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray because it is limited to fatal shootings." Thus far this year, 12 officers have been charged with manslaughter or murder for on-duty fatal shootings this year, already more than twice the average of about five annually in the past decade, according to research by Philip Stinson, an associate professor of criminal justice at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. The tally excludes the six Baltimore officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray because it is limited to fatal shootings." Even thought the rate of convictions is low, many view "the increase in prosecutions is a measure of progress, compared with a year ago, when grand juries declined to indict police in high-profile deaths of civilians in Ferguson, Mo., and Staten Island, N.Y."
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