fbinaa_apr-jun-2020-Press-digital

A t times it appears the problem goes away and then resurfaces again some time later. The reality is the problems never really go away. The main concern is poor communication between the police and the poor in high crime, multi-ethnic neighborhoods (Schneider, 1999). Because the relationship between the police and minority communities has been deteriorating, the police should increase the quantity and quality of non-police related contacts with diverse communities to improve procedural justice and police legitimacy. MINORITY VIEWS OF POLICE Diverse communities, particularly lower income households, view themselves as targets of abusive treatment by the police (Weitzer et al., 2008). This view becomes a significant challenge to overcome. Blacks and Hispanics in lower social class neighborhoods have negative attitudes toward the police, believe the police stop minorities for no reason, believe the police are too tough on those they stop and are verbally or physically abusive toward citizens (Weitzer et al., 2008). These beliefs have been demonstrated numerous times in different communities. Some minority perceptions and attitudes toward the police are not without merit. Multiple studies have demonstrated verbal & physical abuse, unjustified stops, and corruption by police officers in economically deprived, high crime minority neighborhoods (Fagan & Davies, 2000; Weitzer et al, 2008; Kane, 2002; Mastrofski, Reisig, & McCluskey, 2002; Terrill & Reisig, 2003). The lack of information and understanding about minority communities can lead officers to stereotype residents as uncooperative, hostile, or crime-prone. This results in their tendency to approach residents with greater suspicion, behave more aggressively, and act more punitively than they do in other neighborhoods (Smith, 1986; Pate, Skogan, Wycoff, & Sherman, 1985). The police will need to adopt a new course of interaction with minority communities that include sincerity, legitimacy, and truthfulness before the long standing poor relationship can be improved (Schneider, 1999). This must begin with police agencies genuinely listening to minority and low income communities about their perceptions of their treatment and having a true desire to do better. IMPACT OF POLICE INTERACTIONS Though there is a large body of evidence that clearly indicates minority and lower class populations have lower opinions regarding the police, there is also an abundance of research that can help lead to better police-community relationships. Recent personal interactions with the police can significantly impact the way community members view the police (Dean, 1980; Scaglion & Condon, 1980; & Weitzer et al, 2008). In fact, the single most significant way the police can influence citizen attitudes towards the police is during routine, non-police related contact (Mazerolle, Bennet, Antrobus, & Eggins, 2012). Non-police related contacts are probably the easiest way the police can make a positive impact on the community they serve. POLICE LEGITIMACY AND PROCEDURAL JUSTICE When the public believes those in a position of authority are behaving legitimately, justly, and within their legal purview it increases their moral obligation to comply (Mazerolle et al., 2012). Police legitimacy lies in the eyes of the individual having contact with the police and change cannot happen until we understand that perception. The most important aspect of ensuring the public believes the police are legitimate is

procedural justice. Procedural justice can be defined by looking at the quality of the treatment given to the public and the quality of the decisions being made. There are four components typically found associated with procedural justice; neutrality, citizen participation, dignity and respect, and trustworthy motives. Neutrality, which focuses on the conduct alone and removes race, gender, and socioeconomic status, is typically the most important element in shaping citizens impression of the police. The process of establishing procedural justice yields higher compliance, higher satisfaction with the police, and positively influences how the public thinks about the reason officers initiated a contact. All of these positive opinions can be established during a short encounter with an officer initiated traffic stop (Mazeolle et al. 2012). Implementing Positive Contacts and Procedural Justice There are two clear methods to improve relations with the public particularly when dealing with minority and/or lower socioeconomic individuals. The first is making contact with the public for no other reason but to engage them in non- enforcement conversations. Second, when the police are taking enforcement action, they should employ the components of procedural justice. Procedural justice increases police legitimacy, which increases compliance and decreases the need to use force. Traditional police enforcement actions will always remain. There will always be people that will resist the police, commit serious felony crimes, and require the police to act as protectors of the community. However, when the police have to take enforcement action or use force to effect an arrest, increased police legitimacy will go a long way toward the public accepting the decisions made by the police. Implementing positive police contacts and steps toward procedural justice will require the police to add being guardians of their community to their mission. Traditional police work relies on rigid adherence to policies and procedures, reliance on traditional institutions and methods, technical language, and detached objectivity toward social problems (Schneider 1999). The police should redefine the relationship with low income communities and adopt new values and management techniques that encourage empathetic and empowering service strategies (Goldstein, 1987). Collective action between the public and the police, social cohesion, and informal social controls develop out of attachments that are not rational but rather emotional. Traditional methods may not have the capacity to invoke the necessary behavioral or emotional responses from either the public or the police (Schneider, 1999). When the police engage with the public on a personal level, the positive views the public has of the police are reciprocated. There is an emotional benefit from positive contacts between the police and the public. Officers have shown more satisfaction with their job when they get to know the citizen, engage in helpful behavior, and are allowed to be creative and imaginative (Goldstein, 1987). This is particularly important in the current political climate where the police are being viewed in a more negative light. From an organizational perspective, there are three questions that should be addressed to accomplish a shift in values, beliefs, and vision. First, what are the goals for future police-community relations? Second, why are those goals important? Third, how can the goals be achieved (Rothman & Land, 2004)?

F B I N A A . O R G | A P R / J U N 2 0 2 0

continued on page 34

9