Discuss/debate with your classmates about the areas in which you submit police departments have been found to be defective or deficient concentrating on i.e., constitutional due process, civil rights, use of deadly force and police brutality, abuse of discretion, corruption and police-community relations. In doing so, generalize about any possible solutions to these problems and reforming the criminal justice system.
Police departments have been found to be defective or deficient concentrating
Full Answer Section
- Abuse of discretion: Police officers have been found to abuse their discretion in a number of ways, including by making arbitrary arrests, issuing citations for minor infractions, and using excessive force. This abuse of discretion can lead to unfair treatment of citizens and can erode public trust in the police.
- Corruption: Police corruption is a serious problem that can undermine the public's trust in the police. Police corruption can take many forms, including bribery, extortion, and drug trafficking.
- Police-community relations: Police-community relations have deteriorated in many communities in the United States. This is due in part to the perception that the police are not held accountable for their actions and that they are biased against certain groups of people.
- Reforming police training: Police training should be reformed to focus on de-escalation and conflict resolution. Officers should be taught to use force only as a last resort and to respect the rights of citizens.
- Increasing accountability: Police officers should be held more accountable for their actions. This can be done through body cameras, independent investigations of police shootings, and civilian review boards.
- Addressing racial bias: Police departments should address racial bias in their ranks. This can be done through implicit bias training and by recruiting more officers from minority communities.
- Improving police-community relations: Police departments should work to improve relations with the communities they serve. This can be done through community policing programs, outreach efforts, and by listening to the concerns of community members.
Sample Answer
- Constitutional due process: Police officers have been found to violate the constitutional rights of citizens in a number of ways, including by conducting illegal searches and seizures, using excessive force, and denying citizens their right to a fair trial.
- Civil rights: Police departments have been found to discriminate against citizens on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation. This discrimination can manifest itself in a number of ways, including through stop-and-frisk practices, racial profiling, and differential treatment of suspects.
- Use of deadly force and police brutality: Police officers have been found to use excessive force in a number of situations, including when they are not in danger and when they are using force against unarmed civilians. This excessive force can lead to serious injuries and death.