Essay On Policing In The Usa

Policing in the US has been a controversial issue in the nation for as long as it has existed. Across the country, countless protests have recently occurred on behalf of the citizens, broadcasting their worries about law enforcement. There have been numerous attempts at reforms throughout the years. Some of these made a reasonable impact, but in most cases they didn't. Despite these well-meaning endeavors, the United States’ police force still has yet to change for the sake of its citizens, both minorities and majorities. However, it's likely that several different reforms, if enacted simultaneously, with relative balance, could guide our present policing system onto a new path that, ultimately, induces change for the better: namely, increasing

So, when it comes to good judgment, having all this indispensable knowledge stored away benefits not only the individual at hand, but also the community around them. In the context of policing, the importance of education is beyond evident. When the US is being compared to other developed countries in terms of the minimal required educational standards for joining the police force, there's a substantial irregularity. For instance, for most forces in the US “[they] just require the equivalent of a high-school diploma” while in many other countries “officers [are required] to have a university degree - or equivalent - before joining the police” (Doc. A). This comparative lack of training could be one of the many variables that affect our police officers' intuition when in the field, and in action. Ultimately, a severe lack of training may increase the likelihood of what we now know as police brutality. Nevertheless, there’s still more to build upon when it comes to the schooling of police officers; this being the duration of police training before being qualified to go out in the field. Again, when compared to other developed countries, statistics illustrate

It doesn't necessarily mean that we should alter the amount of funding police departments are receiving in any way. It does, however, mean that we should proportionalize the funding more effectively among different aspects of our police force. In knowing that “the US is home to around half of the world's civilian-held firearms,” (Doc A.) we can infer where most funding seems to be administered. However, if the decision were to be made to limit funding, the problem we’d face would be inadequate policing programs. These policing programs, that would likely be cut off from any type of financial support, are acknowledged for “ the positive impact … and outreach [they] have in supporting safe, strong communities.” (Doc C.) Police programs alone, presumably, don't receive just as much funding as firearms in the US do, as it is right now. These may be one of the many reasons why America’s police force is especially known for its excessive violence. Perhaps, crime rates would plummet, and the instances of police brutality may also significantly decrease if the temptation of firearms simply ceased to exist. Not only that, but visualize the difference that would arise in the communities if more policing programs were adequately implemented and subsidized rather than being regarded as the last priority in the matter of