DEMOCRACY AND POLICE VIOLENCE: THE NEW LAW ON ABUSE OF AUTHORITY

Abstract

Abuse of authority, sometimes practiced by police forces, is a matter of significant legal and social relevance, as it constitutes a violation of citizens’ fundamental rights. The purpose of this study is to analyze the limits of police action, identify when excessive conduct characterizes the crime of abuse of authority, and examine the applicability of legal justifications to actions carried out by state agents. This research has a basic and applied nature, adopting a qualitative approach and employing the bibliographic method for the analysis of scientific articles, legal doctrine, legislation, and academic publications addressing the topic. The results indicate that abuse of authority often arises from an overly broad interpretation of legal justifications, deficiencies in continuous professional training, and weaknesses in institutional oversight mechanisms. It was also observed that such practices undermine the legitimacy of police activity and weaken public trust in public security institutions. The study concludes that combating abuse of authority requires strengthening human rights education, establishing clear legal boundaries for police conduct, and implementing permanent training policies aimed at ensuring the protection of human dignity and the effectiveness of the Democratic Rule of Law.