Bowden v. Caldor: A case study of the intersection of racial animus and private security misconduct

Using the facts of the Bowden v. Caldor lawsuit in which Bowden alleges the intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and wrongful discharge against his employer, this paper explores the mistreatment at the hands of private security officers and store personnel. This exploration is important because it discusses several issues such as: (1) the racially influenced misconduct of private security officers; (2) the damage awards often awarded to victims of private security misconduct; (3) the effect deceptive practices can have on false confessions, especially those of juveniles; and (4) the abuse of juveniles by private security officers. To curtail abusive practices, the authors recommend that store owners establish more stringent store policies pertaining to handling employees during theft investigations.