Cultural competence, the ability of juvenile justice system decision-makers to understand and respect differences across cultures, may also strengthen the relationship between law enforcement officers and communities of color. Research suggests that culturally relevant and competent programming designed to influence community involvement while orienting law enforcement to the traditional customs of the community leads to increased engagement and service retention [citation Willison]. Law enforcement officers have the discretion in collaborating with communities of color, rather than viewing these communities as primary targets for surveillance, promoting public safety and law enforcement trust. Moreover, community policing enhances public confidence
