POLICE SENSITIVITY AND RESPONSIVENESS TO MINORITY COMMUNITY NEEDS - A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

• NCJ Number: 53372
• Journal: Valparaiso University Law Review Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 467-535
• Author(s): J F DECKER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 69 pages
• Corporate Author: Valparaiso University
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

CITING VARIOUS STUDIES, POLICE USE OF DISCRETION IN INTERACTION WITH MINORITY GROUPS IS KNOWN TO BE DISCRIMINATORY, AND VARIOUS APPROACHES FOR REMEDYING THIS SITUATION ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

POLICE BACKGROUNDS AND PERSPECTIVES REFLECT THOSE OF THE MAJORITY, SPECIFICALLY THE WORKING CLASS. FURTHER, POLICE ARE EXPECTED TO PERPETUATE A CIVIL ORDER DEFINED IN MIDDLE-CLASS TERMS. ALL THAT IS ESTRANGED FROM OR INCOMPATIBLE WITH THAT ORDER IS VIEWED AS SUSPECT IF NOT OUTRIGHT DEVIANT BY THE POLICE. BECAUSE OF THESE POLICE ATTRIBUTES AND GOALS, MINORITY COMMUNITIES VIEW POLICE AS OCCUPATION FORCES ENLISTED BY THE DOMINANT WHITE, MIDDLE-CLASS MAJORITY. POLICE INSTITUTIONS, INSTITUTIONAL ACTIONS, AND POLICE RESPONSIVENESS TO MINORITY NEEDS ARE DISCUSSED AS THEY TEND TO PERPETUATE AND AGGRAVATE POOR POLICE-MINORITY RELATIONS. THE FOLLOWING REFORM PROPOSALS ARE DISCUSSED: INCREASED MINORITY REPRESENTATION AMONG POLICE PERSONNEL; IMPROVED POLICE STANDARDS; ELIMINATING AUTONOMY AND UNCONTROLLED AUTHORITY; AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAMS. WHILE INCREASED MINORITY RECRUITMENT FOR POLICE PERSONNEL IS RECOMMENDED, THIS POLICY HAS LIMITED EFFECT UPON POLICE-MINORITY RELATIONS DUE TO THE PREVAILING VIEW IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES THAT MINORITY POLICE HAVE REJECTED RACIAL AND COMMUNITY INTERESTS IN FAVOR OF STANDARDS SET BY WHITE MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING, IMPROVED EDUCATION IN THE AREAS OF PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY, AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN RELATIONS EXPERIENCES ARE DISCUSSED AS AREAS WHERE POLICE STANDARDS NEED IMPROVEMENT. THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICE MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE STRUCTURING OF THE USE OF POLICE DISCRETION ARE ALSO DISCUSSED AS REMEDIES FOR DISCRIMINATORY ACTIONS OF POLICE IN INTERACTION WITH MINORITY GROUPS. COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAMS INCLUDE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARDS, COMMUNITY RELATION UNITS, NEIGBORHOOD PATROLS, RIDE-ALONG PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY POLICE BOARDS. (RCB)