Which term describes external oversight bodies that review police actions?

• A. Internal Affairs Units
• B. External Oversight Boards
• C. Citizen Review Boards
• D. Police Commissions

Answer: (C)

Civilian oversight of police actions is carried out by bodies outside the department that examine complaints and assess how police conduct was handled. Citizen Review Boards fit this role because they are composed of civilians who independently review cases, evaluate investigations, and offer findings or recommendations about police conduct. This external, community-based perspective helps promote accountability and public trust.

Internal Affairs Units operate from within the police agency, so they don’t provide external oversight. External Oversight Boards is a broad label that can refer to various structures, but it doesn’t specifically denote civilians reviewing individual cases. Police Commissions are external bodies with governance or policy roles that can vary by jurisdiction and aren’t always focused on reviewing specific police actions in the way citizen review boards do.