From early studies of police departments and law enforcement agencies, their culture is described as authoritarian, cynical, distrustful, elitist, homogeneous, macho, misogynist, monolithic, pessimistic, suspicious, insular, socially isolated and highly resistant to change. Relationships between police officers and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve is often times tense and difficult to maneuver. Police departments can implement an effective mechanism for change as "fish rot from the head first." Evidence of racial disparities exists at many levels of law enforcement from traffic stops, drug related arrests, and the use of force; but, the root cause is not always clear. Psychologist point to systemic problems and implicit biases. In matters of criminal justice, both can have life-altering implications. Racial bias is rooted in the human psychology by internal and external factors that are manifested through explicit and implicit discriminatory behavior. Consequently, people explicitly allow their preconceived thoughts to influence their racist behaviors or implicitly allow their racially preconceived notions to negatively influence their behavior. Community policing, teaching of de-escalation skills and techniques; increase in diversity hiring; improving data collection …show more content…
Academies train and certify recruits to serve as local, state and collegiate police officers, sheriff deputies, highway patrolmen/state troopers, constables, tribal, natural resources and transit police officers. Law enforcement academies also provide training for corrections, probation and parole officers, fire marshals, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and animal control officers and two in five law enforcement academies provide pre-service training for individuals not sponsored by an employing
Introduction Theoretical assumptions about diversity and contact theory inform the view that a more ethnically diverse criminal justice system will reveal a broader range of voices that can shape and influence policy and attitudinal changes for the better. The focal point of this essay is on the law enforcement branch of the criminal justice system. It makes the argument that diversity in the police force can help reduce levels of racial and ethnic bias as well as disproportionality to the extent that diversity is able to change or influence the occupational and institutional structures that create these disproportionalities. To make this claim, this essay will first show that there are indeed disproportionate outcomes in policing and attempt
Aggressive police culture will not change unless officers hold their colleagues accountable. It is important to check in with one another, to recognize the humanity within us. It is okay to become jaded sometimes, but there must be an awareness of how we treat one another, our motives, and particularly an officer’s duty to protect all American citizens. In addition to officers allowing other officers too much discretion, there needs to be a change in the amount of discretion given to police departments as a whole. The political climate of today’s tension has shifted public trust in the police.
Police culture involves a set of standards and rules that have grown through the experience of officers and which are affected by the atmosphere in which they work. Police officers are brought into this “cop culture” from the beginning of their careers that started at the academies they attended. Police officers are more likely to cover up certain kinds of mistakes made by fellow police officers. Some police officers feel that the code is appropriate in cases of illegal brutality or twisting of the rules in order to protect other officers from criminal accounts, but not those of illegal activities with a greedy
Law enforcement and correctional officers daily cope with delicate situations. When faced with an unique, possible deadly situation requires an immediate and appropriate response. We have learned thus far that law enforcement and correctional officers employ a great amount of discretion on a daily basis when performing their duties. Misuse of discretion can lead to society questioning police tactics and policies. Racial profiling is an illustration of misuse of discretion.
The concept of racial bias –more specifically implicit or subconscious racial bias– has received increased attention over the years as racial and ethnic gaps in achievement (largely educational and economic), treatment, and survival outcomes persevere despite the expansion of concerted efforts to focus on the social determinants of health (SDOH) and combating longstanding, overt discriminatory barriers and practices. The increased interest in as well as investments made within the study of implicit or “hidden” biases is largely attributed to the field of social psychology and the research of practitioners like Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt and Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff, whose work have emphasized the importance of focusing on the role that contextual environmental factors and social conditioning play, rather than just explicit racial attitudes, in explaining the persistence of racial inequality. Racial bias refers to the attitudes and/or stereotypes that one has about different racial and ethnic groups that affect their understanding, feelings, and actions towards perceived
Another form of discrimination is police brutality to black minorities. Black minorities in the United states of america are beaten, violated and murdered by officers of the law that sword to protect and serve them. Police brutality is an issue that needs to be stopped. One example of police brutality was the incident regarding Michael Brown. Michael Brown was a 18 year old African American that was fatally shot by a white officer by the name of Darren Wilson.
This article was written by Cody Ross and published in the Social Forum journal, a peer reviewed journal. It is reliable as it has already been peer reviewed and cites many other sources throughout it. In the article, it says that there is a racial disparity in police violence against white people and black people. It attempts to support how black people are unfairly the victims of police brutality as compared to white people. It brings up statistics as to how unarmed black people are much more likely to be shot than unarmed white people are when it comes to dealing with the police.
In addition, in a study about Widening the scope on complaints of police misconduct. Policing, “not all excessive force cases consist of a white
The intention of my research is to expose the racist tactics in the criminal justice system that have been camouflaged. I am prepared to explain how racism contributes to the vast number of incarcerated African Americans, and other minorities. The criminal justice system has created and perpetuated racial hierarchy in the United States, and has done so throughout history. I propose the question: Are minorities being targeted within the Criminal Justice System? African Americans are criminalized and targeted because of their skin color, and it is not fair.
One of the greatest challenges law enforcement are facing is providing effective policing for minority communities. Some factors that prevent minorities from gaining access to justice or being taken advantage of certain criminal justice services are language barriers, racial stereotyping, and cultural differences. Since the 30 's and 40 's, and even during the 60 's, civil rights activists damaged the police-minority relations in the United States, believing that police only interest are protecting white communities. A big explanation of why there 's a poor police-minority relations in the United States is racism on the part of the individual officers. Many minorities in the United States have continued to complain about being treated more harshly than whites and the Department of Justice believes that racial profiling and police discrimination will continue to be a big problem.
These challenges shaped the evolution of police departments, prompting them to adapt, strategize, and reform, constantly reshaping their approach to maintaining the peace. This historical panorama provides an invaluable context for understanding the police departments of today. The twin ideals of authority and service persist, albeit in more complex and plural societies. Today's law enforcement agencies grapple with the same challenges, albeit amplified by technological advances and societal changes.
Coker gives great evidence that supports racial injustice in the criminal justice system. She discusses on the Supreme Court’s rulings and accusations of racial preference in the system. This article is helpful because it supports my thesis on race playing a role on the system of criminal justice. Hurwitz, J., & Peffley, M. (1997). Public perceptions of race and crime: The role of racial stereotypes.
My research methodology gathered documents of data from specific databases analyzing the understanding of police culture. Researchers explain how there's been a considerable amount of time spent studying police culture. Paoline III has provided an in-depth review of scientific issues within the police culture which has the capacity to have an effect by a variety of study factors; describing various elements and facets of a single phenomenon among occupational members, loyalty, and the crime fighter image. The study teaches new members about the dayto- day components of police work examples: deviance, accountability, and reform efforts, the components of culture understanding the police culture. The studies show how officers perceive their working
Although some people may challenge that diversifying police officers will not make a difference in the relationship with communities, police departments mirroring the diversity of communities may mend tension. Notably, the lack of minorities in law enforcement derives from distrust between minorities in communities and law enforcement. In detail, with more policing predicaments emerging, such as police brutality over the recent years, minorities have been more hesitant to join police force due to their
Police organizational structures are entities of two or more people who cooperate to accomplish an objective. This type of structure must be parallel so that it can be effective in achieving the overall goal of protecting and helping the public. For the past several years police agencies have proceeded through a traditional structure but more recently that structure has started to evolve. Traditional structures are based upon principles such as specialization, hierarchy, chain of command, rules and regulations, and official working capacity. Principles such as this allow the structure to work effectively.