BRIDGES OVER TROUBLED WATERS - A PERSPECTIVE ON POLICING IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY (FROM BLACK PERSPECTIVES ON CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, 1977 BY ROBERT L WOODSON - SEE NCJ-44997)

• NCJ Number: 45001
• Author(s): L P BROWN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 27 pages
• Corporate Author: G K Hall
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE STRUCTURE OF THE POLICE SYSTEM, ITS DEFECTS, ITS EFFECTS ON INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS, THE RELATIONS OF THE POLICE TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY, AND SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OF POLICE ABUSES ARE EXAMINED.

Abstract

THERE ARE AS MANY DIFFERENT POLICING STYLES AS THERE ARE POLICE DEPARTMENTS; THE POLICE TEND TO REFLECT THE COMMUNITY SETTING IN WHICH THEY OPERATE. IN HOMOGENEOUS COMMUNITIES, THE POLICE TEND TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CONTROLING POWER STRUCTURE OF THE COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, THE YOUNG, THE POOR, AND MINORITY GROUPS SEE THE POLICE AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SOURCES OF THEIR OPPRESSION. OFFICIAL POLICE POLICIES ADVOCATE OBJECTIVITY, EQUAL ENFORCEMENT, AND THE ABSENCE OF DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES. HOWEVER, THE INDIVIDUAL PATROLMAN EXERCISES A GREAT DEAL OF DISCRETION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES. THE POLICE ARE NOT RESPONSIVE TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY BECAUSE POLICE ARE RECRUITED FROM THE UNDEREDUCATED AND POLITICALLY CONSERVATIVE RANKS OF SOCIETY. MANY RECRUITS HAVE NEVER EVEN SPOKEN WITH A BLACK PERSON BEFORE ENTERING THE DEPARTMENT, AND MOST EITHER DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY, OR LIVE IN ALL-WHITE AREAS. THERE ARE FEW BLACK RECRUITS. THE MAJOR UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS ARE TRADITIONALLY ANTIBLACK. THE POLICE HAS AS ITS MISSION THE PROTECTION OF PROPERTY (PRIMARILY THAT BELONGING TO WHITES) AND NOT THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF BLACK CITIZENS. UNREALISTIC TRAINING OF RECRUITS; LACK OF MEANINGFUL DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST OFFICERS GUILTY OF BRUTALITY; THE SYSTEM OF REWARDING POLICE ONLY FOR CRIMINAL ARRESTS; AND THE PRACTICE OF 'SATURATION PATROL,' IN WHICH EXTRA TACTICAL FORCES ARE ASSIGNED TO HIGH CRIME AREAS, ALL SERVE, TO HEIGHTEN TENSIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY. POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAMS HAVE NOT BEEN AIMED AT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE CONCENTRATED ONLY ON IMPROVING THE POLICE IMAGE. THERE IS A NEED TO MAKE THE POLICE ACCOUNTABLE TO ALL SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY. NEIGHBORHOOD CONTROL OVER THE POLICE IS RECOMMENDED TO GIVE THE BLACK COMMUNITY A POSITION OF PARITY AND POWER IN MAKING POLICIES RELEVANT TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THIS WOULD INVOLVE DECENTRALIZATION OF THE POLICE FUNCTION. A DISCUSSION OF THE PROBLEM BY CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERTS FOLLOWS THE ARTICLE, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (VA)