This paper explores the historical conflict between law enforcement and members of minority groups. It reviews literature, that in more recent years has started to explore this issue in order to create reforms and methods to improve relations between the police and members of minority groups. It explores the New York City Stop-and-Frisk program that seems to unproportionally target members of minority groups. Further, when looking at the people 's general perception of law enforcement it becomes apparent that African-American communities are especially suspicious of the police and are very likely to perceive racial bias. Some of the methods that have been suggested in order to improve relations are an increase in community policing or the use
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Not only do they look at the history of the US and the effects it had on policing and the attitudes people hold even today, but most sources take into account multiple different factors that influence public and police relations. However, more often than not the literature agrees that in the past police treated minority groups with a higher degree of suspicion and would discriminate against them (Smith, 2015; Weitzer, 2015; Weitzer & Tuch, 2005). According to the sources this behaviour is still present in some police forces, that have a policy of stopping minorities more often than whites and treating them overall more harshly in their encounters (Brown, 2013; Weitzer & Tuch, …show more content…
In a study conducted about citizen’s perspective about bias policing it was found that blacks are overall more suspicious of the police and are more likely to perceive racial bias against minority groups in policing. While three-quarters of the whites questions in this study believed that the police treats minority groups and whites equally (Weitzer & Tuch, 2005). An explains for this discrepancy in perspectives brought forth by the researchers is that personal experience significantly influences one 's perception of racialized policing. So while blacks are more likely to experience racialized policing themselves and therefore become aware of the issue, whites do not and hence might believe that this issue does not exist. Further, it was found that when one personally experiences discrimination, one becomes more likely to perceive discrimination against other minority groups (Weitzer & Tuch, 2005). Adding to that when one perceives that one had a negative experience with law enforcement, one is also almost 15 times more likely to evaluate law enforcement negatively (Ariel, Farrar & Sutherland,
Not only do they look at the history of the US and the effects it had on policing and the attitudes people hold even today, but most sources take into account multiple different factors that influence public and police relations. However, more often than not the literature agrees that in the past police treated minority groups with a higher degree of suspicion and would discriminate against them (Smith, 2015; Weitzer, 2015; Weitzer & Tuch, 2005). According to the sources this behaviour is still present in some police forces, that have a policy of stopping minorities more often than whites and treating them overall more harshly in their encounters (Brown, 2013; Weitzer & Tuch, …show more content…
In a study conducted about citizen’s perspective about bias policing it was found that blacks are overall more suspicious of the police and are more likely to perceive racial bias against minority groups in policing. While three-quarters of the whites questions in this study believed that the police treats minority groups and whites equally (Weitzer & Tuch, 2005). An explains for this discrepancy in perspectives brought forth by the researchers is that personal experience significantly influences one 's perception of racialized policing. So while blacks are more likely to experience racialized policing themselves and therefore become aware of the issue, whites do not and hence might believe that this issue does not exist. Further, it was found that when one personally experiences discrimination, one becomes more likely to perceive discrimination against other minority groups (Weitzer & Tuch, 2005). Adding to that when one perceives that one had a negative experience with law enforcement, one is also almost 15 times more likely to evaluate law enforcement negatively (Ariel, Farrar & Sutherland,