Module 5 Discussion Assignment
Question 1: The Emerging Patterns of Policing in the United States (1970 TO DATE)
In the past few decades, from 1970 to the present, icing in the United of America has transformed technology, policies, and demography. Policing has been informed by technology, and now it has gone a notch higher. Computer-aided dispatch systems, body-worn cameras, and automated fingerprint identification systems have enhanced efficiency and helped ensure accountability in the force. For instance, body-worn cameras assist in recording evidential data on how police officers interact with citizens, increasing transparency.
In the 1980s, during the War on Drugs, there was an increase in funding and several officers on drug crime, the emergence of SWAT and paramilitary-style policing, which changed the police-community interaction (Turner & Hoosac, 2023). Community policing, where more concentration is given to the community members to eradicate the root causes of crime, was embraced in the early 1990s.
After the September 11 incident, terrorism became a priority area of policing, resulting in the formation of the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and additional responsibilities of federal agencies, including the FBI and Transportation Security Administration. This is after very bad incidents of police use of force, especially on minority groups, occurred in 2014; the President formed the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. It offered suggestions for modifying policing that discussed areas for reducing the trust deficit, policies, and regulations, tactics for technology applications, community policing, officer training, and officer wellbeing.
Federation law enforcement agencies have significant functions. The FBI explores federal offenses, including acts of terrorism, computer crime and violence, and criminal arrangements. The USA DEA is concerned with drug trafficking and enforcement of controlled substances. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) typically handles laws concerning firearms, explosives, arson, and alcohol and tobacco tampering. U. S. Marshals Service is the oldest federal law enforcement agency and enforces federal court orders through the execution of Capers, Fugitive and Witness Protection, and the transport of prisoners.
Question 2: Policing in the twenty-first century and community concerns
Police work in the twenty-first century involves work that is beyond policing in the traditional sense of apprehending criminals; it consists of partnering with the community, addressing issues of mental health among its members, and even combating terrorism. Contemporary policing entails positive systems of policing where a police force engages the community in solving problems and developing effective policing methods.
Mental health patients may also contact law enforcement officers due to their involvement in the first crisis response, which entails crisis intervention training and collaboration with mental health workers. Since 9/11, local police have had essential counterterrorism duties and responsibilities to cooperate with federal entities and provide intelligence-driven policing (Cohen, 2021). Tools like body cams and evidence-based data analysis improve functionality, accountability, and public engagement.
Police and citizens’ relations have become strained, and this has been so, especially after incidents where police have killed Africans and Native Americans. Some of the occurrences that have brought to the surface issues with race include the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Research shows that black people are more vulnerable to police use of force. Citizens have questioned police legitimacy due to perceived bias and police impunity.
Officer safety has continued to be an issue, as seen by recent incidents such as the ones in Dallas and Baton Rouge in the same year. In treating persons with mental health problems or substance use disorders, there is a need to train security personnel in handling such persons and seek the assistance of health workers to ensure that these persons are not criminalized.
Solving these problems means improving training in the use of nonviolent approaches, cultural sensitivity, and diversity, as well as using body cameras, independent investigations, and transparency. Engaging in community policing and increasing the size of CITs can foster good police-community relations and better serve those needing assistance.
References
Cohen, D. (2021). The inside story of how the NYPD’s Intelligence Division adapted in the wake of 9/11. In Routledge Handbook of US Counterterrorism and Irregular Warfare Operations (pp. 377-389). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003164500-31/inside-story-nypd-intelligence-division-adapted-wake-9-11-david-cohen
Turner, F. W., & Hoosac, B. (2023). President’s Task Force on Twenty-First-Century Policing. The Routledge History of Police Brutality in America, 281-297. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003109969-28/president-task-force-twenty-first-century-policing-frederick-turner-brent-hoosac