A civilian body reviews police conduct to promote accountability and transparency. Which term describes this mechanism?

• A. Civil liability
• B. Citizen oversight
• C. Corruption
• D. Ethics

Answer: (B)

Citizen oversight is a mechanism where a civilian body outside the police department reviews police conduct to promote accountability and transparency. It handles complaints, reviews investigations, and issues findings or recommendations, giving the public a voice in policing and often providing independent perspectives that complement internal reviews. This external review helps ensure misconduct is addressed and trust is maintained through visible, civilian-led scrutiny. Civil liability involves legal action against officers in court for damages or injuries and is not an oversight body in itself. Corruption refers to illegal or unethical abuse of power, while ethics are the standards guiding conduct; neither describes an external civilian mechanism for evaluating police actions.