12.4 Current Challenges in Policing

Modern policing faces new challenges and opportunities with technology. From body-worn cameras to predictive software, these tools aim to enhance transparency and efficiency. However, they also raise concerns about privacy, bias, and the balance between public safety and individual rights.

Diversity in policing is crucial for building trust and understanding in communities. Effective training programs are key to addressing cultural barriers, implicit biases, and historical mistrust. Police departments strive to improve cultural competency and representation to better serve diverse populations.

Technology and Policing

Technology impact on policing

Top images from around the web for Technology impact on policing

• 

  Police Across Canada Are Using Predictive Policing Algorithms View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Facebook Police body-worn cameras must come with clear policies - Policy Options View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Police Across Canada Are Using Predictive Policing Algorithms View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Facebook Police body-worn cameras must come with clear policies - Policy Options View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

Top images from around the web for Technology impact on policing

• 

  Police Across Canada Are Using Predictive Policing Algorithms View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Facebook Police body-worn cameras must come with clear policies - Policy Options View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Police Across Canada Are Using Predictive Policing Algorithms View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Facebook Police body-worn cameras must come with clear policies - Policy Options View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

• Body-worn cameras (BWCs) increase transparency and accountability in police-citizen interactions, potentially reducing use of force incidents and citizen complaints, but also present challenges such as privacy concerns, data storage requirements, and implementation costs
• Social media platforms enable police departments to engage in community outreach, disseminate information quickly (Amber Alerts), and conduct investigations, but require careful management of online presence, addressing misinformation, and maintaining professional standards
• Predictive policing software analyzes crime data to forecast crime hotspots and optimize resource allocation, but raises concerns about perpetuating biases and overpolicing certain communities
• Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) automate traffic enforcement and assist in investigations by scanning and comparing vehicle license plates to databases, but raise privacy concerns about data retention and sharing
• Drones enhance situational awareness in surveillance, search and rescue operations, and crime scene documentation, but their use must balance public safety benefits with privacy considerations and community acceptance

Diversity and Police Training

Policing in diverse societies

• Language barriers and cultural differences can hinder effective communication and understanding between police and diverse communities, leading to misinterpretation and escalation of encounters
• Historical mistrust and strained relationships with minority groups, often stemming from past incidents of discrimination or excessive force, challenge police efforts to build community partnerships
• Implicit biases and stereotyping can influence police decision-making and contribute to disparate treatment of individuals based on race, ethnicity, or other characteristics
• Cultural competency involves understanding and respecting the customs, beliefs, and communication styles of diverse populations to adapt policing strategies and build trust
• Promoting diversity within police ranks through recruitment and retention efforts can improve cultural understanding and representation of the community served
• Addressing disparities requires examining and correcting practices that contribute to racial profiling and disproportionate minority contact with the criminal justice system
• Community policing strategies emphasize collaboration, problem-solving, and trust-building between police and diverse communities to improve public safety and perceptions of legitimacy

Effectiveness of police training

• Basic police academy training provides foundational knowledge in law, procedures, firearms proficiency, defensive tactics, and communication skills, but is limited by short duration and lack of real-world application
• Field training programs pair new officers with experienced officers for on-the-job learning, allowing practical application of skills and exposure to various situations, but success depends on the quality of field training officers and consistency of instruction
• Continuing education and professional development are essential for officers to stay current on emerging trends (cybercrime), legal updates (case law), and best practices in policing
• Specialized training in areas such as crisis intervention, de-escalation, and mental health equips officers to respond effectively to specific challenges and reduces the risk of force escalation
• Leadership development programs groom officers for supervisory and command positions, ensuring continuity of organizational values and preparing for succession planning

Use of Force and Militarization

Police use of force

• The use of force continuum provides a framework for officers to select appropriate force options based on the level of subject resistance and perceived threat, ranging from verbal commands to less-lethal tools (Tasers) to lethal force
• Factors influencing use of force decisions include the severity of the crime, subject's level of resistance or threat, and the presence of weapons, but officers must also consider individual characteristics (mental health) and environmental factors (bystanders)
• De-escalation techniques, such as active listening, empathy, and persuasion, can reduce the need for force and improve outcomes in police-citizen encounters, but require training and a guardian mindset
• High-profile incidents of excessive force and police brutality, often captured on video, erode public trust and lead to calls for increased accountability and oversight of police actions
• Disproportionate use of force against minority groups, particularly Black individuals, highlights systemic issues of bias and racism in policing and fuels community outrage and protests (Black Lives Matter)
• Balancing the need for officer safety with the responsibility to protect and serve the public is a constant challenge, requiring ongoing training, policy review, and community engagement

Police militarization debate

• The acquisition of military-grade equipment (armored vehicles) and adoption of military-style tactics (SWAT teams) by police departments, often through federal programs (1033 Program), has raised concerns about the militarization of policing
• Proponents argue that military equipment and tactics enhance officer safety and response capabilities in high-risk situations (active shooters), while critics contend that it escalates violence and erodes community trust, particularly in communities of color
• The use of military equipment and tactics can create a "warrior" mentality among officers, emphasizing force and control over service and protection, and contribute to an "us vs. them" dynamic with the public
• The debate over police militarization intersects with broader discussions of police reform, accountability, and the appropriate role and scope of policing in society, and has led to calls for demilitarization and reallocation of resources to alternative community safety strategies