High profile news accounts have brought attention to policing methods and processes that may have imbedded bias and racism. The resources on this page are meant to help scholars discover the most current findings and trends in this field, and to discover what actions the government anon non-profits are taking to ensure unjust/racist procedures are eliminated. The graph below provides a graphic representation of adult American beliefs about policing and race. This graph was retrieved from Statista (see citation below the graphic) You can find numerous graphical, statistical presentations using Statista (which must be searched independent from Eaglesearch).
YouGov. (September 9, 2020). Share of adults who think Black people and White people receive equal police treatment in the United States in September 2020, by ethnicity [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 13, 2021, from https://ezproxy.eastern.edu:2224/statistics/1123433/share-adults-black-white-people-receive-equal-treatment-us-ethnicity/
Virtuous Policing by
"It pulls no punches, shuns no controversial topic, and glosses over no issues or problems that beset America's law enforcement community in our day. For those who may be prone to suspect the motives of these self-confessed lovers of cops and warriors, the title of this book...should be sufficient to allay such concerns." --John C. Hall, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI (Retd.), from the Foreword Virtuous Policing: Bridging America's Gulf Between Police and Populace is a vigorous assessment and commentary on governmental uses of force, whether by civilian law enforcement officers in the United States or by military service members overseas. In the wake of recent controversies such as events in Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore, Maryland, this book presents strategies to ease rising tensions in citizen-law enforcement relations. The book particularly addresses the growing division between members of the police and citizenry due to a number of factors, including the effects of some press members who are more interested in cultivating sensational stories of "rogue" cops than in discovering and disseminating facts. Also, with the abundance of information--true and false--available on the Internet and the increasing utilization of social media, technology contributes to the rising friction between citizens and police. Rather than make unrealistic arguments for curtailing media and technology, it suggests solutions that are reasonable, practical, and, most importantly, peaceful. The authors examine law enforcement policies, procedures, and leadership methods in relation to four cardinal virtues: self-control, justice, competency, and moral courage. Case studies illustrate ethical, legal, psychological, and tactical issues that law enforcement and the military have to address in establishing and maintaining good and peaceable governance. With an eye toward minimizing or avoiding future violent confrontations between citizens and those who have sworn to protect them, Virtuous Policing makes recommendations on how law enforcement and military leaders can better train and lead their subordinates. It provides legitimate leadership guidance and peaceful solutions to the growing gap between America's citizenry and its police.
Policing in America by
This book maps the development of modern policing--both theory and practice--from humans' first efforts at social control, through the British roots of modern policing, to the unique institution of American policing today. How Americans view police has varied dramatically through history. In 1856, New York police opposed wearing uniforms because they felt it represented a militaristic and nondemocratic type of organization. Today, our police model themselves on the military and use military tactics in the "war" on drugs. Policing in America: A Reference Handbook chronicles our changing ideas and methods of social control, beginning with the first recorded instances. It traces the trends that have shaped America's unique policing system and our fascination with police. It also examines the hot-button issues that concern police scholars today--such as the nature of the police subculture and police corruption--and details the trends and issues that will shape the future of policing. An essential reference for those interested in--and affected by--the American system of policing, which impacts us all. A glossary of standard policing terms, such as "blue curtain," "police subculture," "stakeout," and "forensics," allows the reader to better acquaint themselves with the law enforcement world A detailed list of associations and organizations in the field points readers to sources of further information
To Protect and Serve by
The police in America belong to the people -- not the other way around. Yet millions of Americans experience their cops as racist, brutal, and trigger-happy: an overly aggressive, militarized enemy of the people. For their part, today's officers feel they are under siege -- misunderstood, unfairly criticized, and scapegoated for society's ills. Is there a fix? Former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper believes there is. Policing is in crisis. The last decade has witnessed a vast increase in police aggression, misconduct, and militarization, along with a corresponding reduction in transparency and accountability. It is not just noticeable in African American and other minority communities -- where there have been a series of high-profile tragedies -- but in towns and cities across the country. Racism -- from raw, individualized versions to insidious systemic examples -- appears to be on the rise in our police departments. Overall, our police officers have grown more and more alienated from the people they've been hired to serve. In To Protect and Serve, Stamper delivers a revolutionary new model for American law enforcement: the community-based police department. It calls for fundamental changes in the federal government's role in local policing as well as citizen participation in all aspects of police operations: policymaking, program development, crime fighting and service delivery, entry-level and ongoing education and training, oversight of police conduct, and -- especially relevant to today's challenges -- joint community-police crisis management. Nothing will ever change until the system itself is radically restructured, and here Stamper shows us how.
On June 17 and 18, 2020, the U.N. Human Rights held "an urgent debate on current racially inspired human rights violations, systemic racism, police brutality and violence against peaceful protests."
For most topics related to social justice, law, and policing, we recommend the following databases.
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