NCJ Number
78063
Date Published
1981
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The revamping of criminal justice personnel policies to increase the involvement of Hispanics is discussed as a critical need in countering growing organized Hispanic criminal activity.
Abstract
Law enforcement agencies have not been able to curb the development of multibillion dollar Hispanic-controlled narcotics operations in Florida, California, and other areas of the Nation. This situation has been largely due to an indifference about maximizing the use of Hispanic personnel in law enforcement and corrections. As a result, a growing alienation between the criminal justice system and the Hispanic community had developed. Negative attitudes are precipitated and reinforced in Hispanic offenders who, unable to relate to the dominant culture because of the few channels of communication and commonality, find identity in Hispanic inmate organizations. Efforts to break through these cultural barriers have been meager, because little effort has been exerted to recruit Hispanic criminal justice personnel, and among existing Hispanic personnel, there are complaints of underuse and discriminatory promotion policies. Some of the changes needed are strict adherence to the ranking and promotion of personnel, a system of ongoing personnel evaluation, and incentives for personnel to learn to speak Spanish. Aditional changes recommended are extra points in civil service examinations for those with bilingual skills, Federal funding for Hispanic undercover personnel, and priority attention by the U.S. Attorney General to cases of racial discrimination against any minority criminal justice employee.