Module 5 Assignment Two
Understanding the Public
The group I chose for this assignment is African Americans. African Americans are in the top ten largest ethnic groups in America. They are also a group that has an adequate amount of interactions with law enforcement. The majority of both black and white
Americans agree that black individuals are treated less fairly than white individuals
when it comes to dealing with the police and criminal justice system. A majority of
African Americans, about eighty percent, believe white people are treated more fairly by
the criminal justice system. These negative interactions with law enforcement has led to
negative views by these individuals and their communities. These interactions and what
we see in the news and in the media can also cause people to become anxious around
law enforcement, which can lead to unnecessary actions from both parties. The more re-
cent event that first comes to my mind was the incident with George Flyod. Officers
should not use an unnecessary amount of force on an individual, and use it as a last re-
sort, but the individuals should also comply and not struggle. African Americans are not
only exposed to improper treatment from law enforcement, but they are also more likely
to be wrongfully convicted.
Diversity training Now of course not all law enforcement has these feelings and discriminating views to-
wards this group of individuals, and of course not all African Americans are criminals.
There are perceived notions that law enforcement succumb to stereotyping because of
how they dress or even how they talk. "Black English" is said to be misunderstood by many, and can result in negative consequences. Law enforcement officials need to un-
derstand the public through interactions, such as talking, patrolling and participating
within the communities. These interactions can shed light on issues and they can be ad- dressed or corrected. Of course no community wants to be over patrolled or targeted.
but presence of law enforcement is crucial in communities. Building trust in communi-
ties is very important when it comes to law enforcement and can even help improve re-
sponse times.I see diversity training as very important when it comes to African Ameri-
can cultures, and all cultures. Law enforcement should be properly trained and able to
adapt to changes. Understanding the diversity can strengthen relations, communication.
and understanding. These steps can change negative perceptions African Americans
may have when it comes to law enforcement.
Procedural Justice
Procedural justice focuses on how criminal justice professionals interact with the public
and how those interactions shapes views, and the public's compliance. Embracing this
concept promotes a positive change and encourages a better relationship with law en- forcement and communities. Following these principles of being fair, transparent, pro-
viding opportunity, and being impartial when it comes to decision making can lead to
outcomes of confidence and trust in the criminal justice system from communities and
professionals participating in unbiased interactions. Police legitimacy suggests that law
enforcement should be able to