This paper looks at excessive police violence and the public’s attitudes towards excessive police violence. It explores the existing literature about police violence, and the existing public...Show moreThis paper looks at excessive police violence and the public’s attitudes towards excessive police violence. It explores the existing literature about police violence, and the existing public perceptions towards these acts. It mentions how there is a lack of literature talking about any other potential reasons, aside from racism, as a cause for police violence. There are many articles and studies exploring racially motivated acts of excessive police violence and the negative public views towards this, but there is almost no literature exploring external factors as a cause of this violence. This paper collected data through a survey seeking to ask the participants how they feel about police violence. Through these questions, the paper sought to see if people would be more accepting of police violence if it were to be caused by external factors. The analysis found that there was a moderately positive relationship between the acceptance towards excessive police violence by the public, and external factors having an influence on an officer’s actions. This shows that when people knew a situation was caused by external factors outside of the officer’s control, they were more willing to accept these acts. This paper then discusses what further research could be done on this topic.Show less