Systematic Reform

Pick up any newspaper or watch a news program over the past several years; you will see a story about police misconduct. The recent events involving police misconduct, and the perceived failure of the justice system to hold officers accountable has started a call for reform, oversight, and retraining of law enforcement personnel on a national level.

Systematic reform on all levels of law enforcement is a critical first step to improve accountability. According to the ACLU’s call for reform and the elimination of police abuse, “Nothing will be resolved until there is systemic change throughout this nation in the implicit and explicit bias against people of color and particularly African American youth who are routinely targeted by law enforcement even within their own communities.” People bring into occupations and situations their own personal bias, however; as one who pledged …show more content…
The Cleveland Police Department has entered into an agreement with the Department of Justice that allows objective oversight. Thompson wrote,” the department has promised to enact widespread systemic reforms, especially around the use of force, is one of the most stringent Justice Department settlements yet .” Taking this step, the Cleveland Police Department is saying to the citizens, we hear you, we understand, and we are ready to make a change. According to Thompson, “ federal investigations and consent decrees like the one in Cleveland have become increasingly common, and many experts say they’re one of the best chances troubled police departments have for taking on the daunting task of reform, addressing police misconduct, and improving relations with a distrustful community.Many other departments have entered into similar agreements with the DOJ; some have been successful while others have not. However, it is a step in the right direction towards police