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How do we think about institutional racism in the American police force? How do we think about institutional racism in the American police force?
'The police must be reformed!': The police are systemically racist 'The police must be reformed!': The police are systemically racist
'The police are not the issue!': The police should not be blamed for the problems of a racialized society 'The police are not the issue!': The police should not be blamed for the problems of a racialized society
'We must abolish the police!': Reforming the police means getting rid of them 'We must abolish the police!': Reforming the police means getting rid of them
Policing is a tool for state-sanctioned violence Policing is a tool for state-sanctioned violence
We need to hold the police accountable We need to hold the police accountable
Institutional racism is a colonial hangover Institutional racism is a colonial hangover
The social role of the police must change The social role of the police must change
Defunding police will disproportionately harm ethnic minorities Defunding police will disproportionately harm ethnic minorities
American police victimise black people American police victimise black people
The police are not defined by the actions of a minority The police are not defined by the actions of a minority
A reduced police presence is dangerous for everyone A reduced police presence is dangerous for everyone
Defunding the police will lead to vigilantism Defunding the police will lead to vigilantism
American political institutions are responsible for police racism American political institutions are responsible for police racism
African Americans are predisposed to criminal behaviour African Americans are predisposed to criminal behaviour
The police are being victimized The police are being victimized
To be anti-police is to be anti-American To be anti-police is to be anti-American
Defund the police Defund the police
The police are inherently racist The police are inherently racist
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How do we think about institutional racism in the American police force?
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'The police are not the issue!': The police should not be blamed for the problems of a racialized society

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A reduced police presence is dangerous for everyone

This important debate about race relations has been subverted by emphasis on the police. Much academic research has shown that increasing visible police presence reduces crime rates. The same cannon of research shows that areas with higher crime rates have more police. Scaling back law enforcement would have dangerous repercussions for all. Proponents include Fox anchor Laura Ingraham and Republican senator Ted Cruz.
Inimai M. Chettiar Laura Ingraham Ted Cruz
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The Argument

This important debate about race relations has been subverted by an emphasis on the police. Those who argue for a reduction in police department size or abolishment of police altogether are ignoring the many studies that have shown that an increased police force does have an impact on crime reduction, particularly in property crime. Even police strikes of the past have resulted in increased crime rates [1], and areas with extra police presence have shown decreases in crime.[2] The police force utilizes other policing tactics that aren’t limited to patrols and arrests, such as digital tactics and data collection which successfully aid in crime reduction. This is a tool that is overlooked in the discussion about the usefulness of police.[3] Hiring increases in police departments have shown an increase in community policing and a reduction in crime rates within those communities. Increased police presence often deters criminality, and an increase in police does not necessarily mean more arrests or more incarceration.

Counter arguments

The majority of studies on whether increased police departments reduce crime are murky at best, and many show little to no difference in reducing crime rates. Many incidents that police are called for often require more interpersonal and social work skills than police are trained for, so their increased presence is ineffective in reducing complex and violent crimes. Funding could be better utilized in community programs that work to effectively reduce crimes and utilizing police presence only when and where it is truly necessary, such as high-alert or crime hotspots. [4]

Proponents

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://cebcp.org/evidence-based-policing/what-works-in-policing/research-evidence-review/increasing-department-size/
  2. https://www.city-journal.org/bolstering-police-forces-reduces-crime
  3. https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/02/more-police-managed-more-effectively-really-can-reduce-crime/385390/
  4. https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/blog/more-bobbies-beat-are-unlikely-reduce-crime
This page was last edited on Saturday, 5 Sep 2020 at 18:00 UTC

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