Concerns about racial profiling and the excessive use of force against African Americans have existed in the US for a long time. Research has been done by Smith and Petrocelli (2001) and Legewie (2016) to determine the scope and effects of racial profiling in policing procedures. Smith and Petrocelli (2001) conducted a multivariate analysis of police traffic stop data for their study. They discovered evidence that suggests race significantly influences the choices that police officers make while performing traffic stops. This is an instance of racial profiling, in which law enforcement officials single out people based on their race or ethnicity for an investigation into possible criminal conduct.
Legewie (2016) discovered that racially charged instances or highly publicized incidents involving police violence toward minorities could temporarily enhance racial bias and discriminatory practices by law enforcement agents. This suggests that the social and political environment in which police officers work might impact their conduct and lead to racial inequities in policing. Both studies draw attention to racial profiling and the disproportionate use of force by police against African Americans. These actions not only damage the public’s confidence in law enforcement, but they also have adverse effects on the communities that are being targeted, such as emotions of dread, alienation, and frustration. Racial profiling may also be ineffective because it removes resources from more efficient, evidence-based crime-fighting tactics.
The lack of meaningful accountability for police officers involved in excessive use of force
In the United States, there has long been criticism about the lack of effective accountability for police officers who use excessive force. Making changes to promote police accountability is a difficult task, Walker (2012) notes in his analysis. Organizational opposition, a lack of political will, and a lack of funding are just a few of the issues that frequently make reform attempts challenging. Walker argues that constant monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment of reform initiatives are necessary for successful police accountability to overcome these obstacles.
Rad et al. (2023) examine how police unionization relates to responsibility and improper behaviors. According to their research, police unions can contribute to a lack of accountability by shielding officers from disciplinary action, impeding investigations into wrongdoing, and crafting contracts that put officers’ interests ahead of the general public. The authors urge changes to the collective bargaining process, openness in police union discussions, and the creation of civilian oversight bodies to prevent police unions from undermining police accountability to address these problems.
The lack of transparency and public oversight of police departments
A significant issue contributing to the persistence of problems like racial profiling, excessive use of force, and general public mistrust in law enforcement is the lack of openness and public supervision of police departments. While there have been some attempts to increase transparency and accountability, Murphy et al. (2017) argue that uneven practices, a lack of resources, and a general ambiguity over the duties and responsibilities of different monitoring bodies must improve these efforts. They contend that to keep police forces accountable and to foster confidence between the police and the communities they serve, more effective and reliable public monitoring systems are required. To enhance general monitoring, they recommend adopting uniform reporting procedures and creating open lines of contact between police departments and outside inspection groups.
Morton (2018) explores the issue of increasing police accountability and transparency in violent confrontations with African Americans in the US. The study emphasizes the necessity of greater openness in police agencies and the value of citizen scrutiny in keeping officers responsible for their conduct. Morton suggests several solutions to deal with these problems, such as the deployment of community policing models, making use of body-worn cameras and the creation of civilian review committees. Police agencies can develop more vital trust and collaboration with their communities by boosting openness and public monitoring, which may result in fewer instances of excessive use of force and other violations.
The impact of police brutality and excessive use of force on African American communities
Black American communities in the United States have been disproportionately affected by police brutality and excessive use of force. Edwards et al. (2019) analyze the risk of being killed by police use of force in the United States based on age, race-ethnicity, and sex. According to the report, African Americans, especially young African American men, are more likely to be killed by police than their white counterparts. Black American communities are affected significantly by the increased probability of deadly police contacts, which adds to a sense of dread, alienation, and mistrust of the police.
Similarly, Desmond et al. (2016) examine the connection between police brutality and citizen reporting a crime in the black community. According to the findings, African Americans may report fewer crimes because they may be less willing to trust and cooperate with law enforcement after incidents of police violence. This lack of cooperation compromises the efficiency of the criminal justice system and feeds a vicious cycle of crime and violence in the communities it affects. In their study of race and perceptions of police misconduct, Weitzer and Tuch (2004) determine that African Americans are more likely than whites to perceive and experience police harassment, including excessive use of force. This belief is associated with greater levels of apprehension and suspicion of the police among African Americans, which can heighten tensions between the police and the communities they are intended to serve.
The Role of implicit bias and systemic racism in shaping police behavior
Implicit bias is a reflection of systemic racism. Implicit bias is the term used to describe the unintentional views or prejudices people have toward specific social groups, which can impact how they act and make decisions. According to Payne and Hannay (2021), When it comes to policing, this might take the form of officers unintentionally linking particular racial or ethnic groups to crime or risk, which can result in disproportionate targeting, the use of force, or other discriminatory attitudes. Implicit bias theory is criticized by Woods (2017), who contends that it falls short of explaining the complexity of police action. The author argues that focusing on unconscious prejudice may distract from tackling other systemic concerns, such as policies, training, and organizational culture, that lead to racial inequities in the police. According to Woods, the challenge is figuring out the extent to which unconscious prejudice and structural variables contribute to influencing police actions.
Systemic racism in criminal judicial systems, including policing procedures, must be eliminated, according to Najdowski and Stevenson (2022). They contend that while dealing with implicit bias is important, doing so alone will not eliminate racial disparities in the criminal justice system. The authors stress the need to address the more significant systemic issues, such as institutional policies, economic inequalities, and historical legacies of racism, that lead to racial inequities. This entails conducting a critical assessment of the part played by the police in maintaining systemic racism and putting in place extensive reforms to deal with these problems.
Strategies for preventing and addressing police brutality and excessive use of force against African Americans
Police brutality towards the black population continues to be a problem, necessitating a number of strategies, including short- and long-term initiatives that will help defuse the situation. Anti-racist education implementation is part of this. Bornstein et al. (2012) claim that to overcome racial disparities in policing, police training should incorporate critical race theory. This strategy encourages officers to face and combat systemic racism and identify and face their implicit prejudices. The use of community-oriented policing is another strategy. According to Smith (1994), implementing a community-oriented policing approach enables police personnel to establish trusting bonds with local residents, participate in cooperative problem-solving, and prioritize community feedback to build a more inclusive and equitable system. More oversight and accountability are additional successful strategies for lowering the frequency of police violence toward the black population.
Creating precise mechanisms for reporting and investigating instances of police brutality, establishing independent review boards, and requiring the use of body-worn cameras can all help hold officers responsible for their conduct (Reed, 2017). Cooperating with social workers: Social workers should be included in law enforcement because they are knowledgeable about resolving social issues and have experience with crisis intervention and de-escalation, as per Wilson & Wolfer (2020) and Springfield (2022). This teamwork may result in more timely, appropriate, and compassionate responses to substance addiction or mental health emergencies. Changes in legislation that lessen the use of punitive measures and emphasize addressing the underlying causes of crime, such as poverty, mental illness, and addiction, can help shift the focus of the police from enforcement to prevention and support.
The need for increased police training and education on racial and cultural sensitivity
Promoting fair policing tactics requires improved police training and instruction on racial and cultural sensitivity. Implicit bias training should be the main emphasis of the trains. Police should get training on unconscious biases and tactics for minimizing them (Bornstein et al., 2012). In order to promote understanding, communication, and mutual respect among police officers, cultural competence training is a valuable tool (Wilson & Wolfer, 2020). Officers should also receive de-escalation training. It encourages excellent communication and conflict resolution techniques that lower the likelihood that excessive force may be employed in tense circumstances.
In conclusion, tackling police brutality and disproportionate use of force against African Americans requires a multidimensional strategy recognizing the intricate interplay between personal, organizational, and systemic issues. We may endeavor to create a more fair and just society where all citizens are treated with dignity and respect. This can be achieved by implementing techniques like anti-racist pedagogy, community-oriented policing, improved monitoring and accountability, engagement with social workers, and policy reform.
References
Bornstein, A., Charles, S., Domingo, J., & Solis, C. (2012). Critical race theory meets the NYPD: An assessment of anti-racist pedagogy for police in New York City. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 23(2), 174-204.
Springfield, A. (2022). Social Workers’ Perceptions on Partnering with Police to Address Violent Police Encounters towards African Americans (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University).
Reed, W. (2017). Police Use of Force. Law Enforcement in the Age of Black Lives Matter: Policing Black and Brown Bodies, p. 37.
Wilson, B. L., & Wolfer, T. A. (2020). Reducing police brutality in African American communities: Potential roles for social workers in congregations. Social Work and Christianity, 47(3), 66–84. Smith, M. R. (1994). Integrating community policing and the use of force: Public education, involvement, and accountability. Am. J. Police, 13, 1.
Smith, M. R., & Petrocelli, M. (2001). Racial profiling? A multivariate analysis of police traffic stop data. Police Quarterly, 4(1), 4-27
Legewie, J. (2016). Racial profiling and use of force in police stop: How local events trigger periods of increased discrimination. American Journal of Sociology, 122(2), 379–424.
Walker, S. (2012). Institutionalizing police accountability reforms: The problem of making police reforms endure. . Louis U. Pub. L. Rev., 32, 57.
Rad, A. N., Kirk, D. S., & Jones, W. P. (2023). Police Unionism, Accountability, and Misconduct. Annual Review of Criminology, pp. 6, 181–203.
Murphy, P., Eckersley, P., & Ferry, L. (2017). Accountability and transparency: Police forces in England and Wales. Public Policy and Administration, 32(3), 197-213.
Morton, D. R. (2018). Improving police transparency and accountability in violent encounters with African Americans. Journal of African American Studies, 22, 125-138.
Edwards, F., Lee, H., & Esposito, M. (2019). Risk of being killed by police use of force in the United States by age, race–ethnicity, and sex. Proceedings of the national academy of sciences, 116(34), 16793-16798.
Desmond, M., Papachristos, A. V., & Kirk, D. S. (2016). Police violence and citizen crime reporting in the black community. American sociological review, 81(5), 857-876.
Weitzer, R., & Tuch, S. A. (2004). Race and perceptions of police misconduct. Social problems, 51(3), 305-325.
Payne, B. K., & Hannay, J. W. (2021). Implicit bias reflects systemic racism. Trends in cognitive sciences, 25(11), 927-936.
Woods, T. P. (2017). The implicit bias of implicit bias theory. Drexel L. Rev., 10, 631.
Najdowski, C. J., & Stevenson, M. C. (2022). A call to dismantle systemic racism in criminal legal systems. Law and Human Behavior, 46(6), 398.
Bornstein, A., Charles, S., Domingo, J., & Solis, C. (2012). Critical race theory meets the NYPD: An assessment of anti-racist pedagogy for police in New York City. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 23(2), 174-204.
Springfield, A. (2022). Social Workers’ Perceptions on Partnering with Police to Address Violent Police Encounters towards African Americans (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University). Reed, W. (2017). Police Use of Force. Law Enforcement in the Age of Black Lives Matter: Policing Black and Brown Bodies, 37.
Wilson, B. L., & Wolfer, T. A. (2020). Reducing police brutality in African American communities: Potential roles for social workers in congregations. Social Work and Christianity, 47(3), 66-84.
Smith, M. R. (1994). Integrating community policing and the use of force: Public education, involvement, and accountability. Am. J. Police, 13, 1.
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