Multicultural Issues in Policing

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses that for the past 40 years, law enforcement in the United States has been accused of being ethnocentric and unable to accommodate cultures other than Caucasian white. The writer maintains that in a country founded by ethnic groups and immigrants, it is difficult to conceive of a practice that is so insensitive to the needs of other cultures. Further, the writer argues that in order to be an effective law enforcement officer one must understand other cultures in a personal way that goes beyond language barriers. This research examines cultural issues related to law enforcement as well as issues that may affect the ability to deliver fair and just law enforcement for all cultures.

Outline:
Understanding Cultural Differences
Law Enforcement and Community Relations
The Roots of Racial Profiling
Racial Profiling and the Muslim Community
Is This Still Necessary, or Just an Excuse?
Works Cited

From the Paper:

"The formal definition of culture refers to a shared system of beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and the means that a group of people use to adjust to their world and others around them. Cultures are typically defined by their traits that make them different from other groups. All cultures have similarities and differences. Culture refers to the uniqueness of each and every group. It may include the way they dress, the foods that they eat, family structure, and moral values. Often other cultures are judged only by those things that are easily observable, such as the way they dress, their language, or the foods that they eat. However, cultural differences may not be as apparent on the outside and the necessity of cultural understanding may be missed by an officer. The ability to recognize what constitutes a multicultural experience and to recognize the diversity that exists is the first step to understanding differences."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Coderoni, G. (2002).The relationship between multicultural training for police and effective law enforcement - Perspective. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,The, Nov, 2002 : 1-3
• Criminal Justice Reform Project. (2003). Wrong Then, Wrong Now: Racial Profiling Before and After September 11, 2001. Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund, Criminal Justice Reform Project, February 27, 2003.
• Dabney, D., Dugan, L., Topalli, V., and Hollinger, R. (2006). The Impact of Implicit Stereotyping on Offender Profiling. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 33 (5): 646-674.
• Harcourt, B. (2004). Rethinking Racial Profiling: A Critique of the Economics, Civil Liberties, and Constitutional Literature, and of Criminal Profiling More Generally. 71 U. Chi. L. Rev. 1275. Fall, 2004.
• Harris, D. (2002). Flying while Arab: lessons from the racial profiling controversy. Civil Rights Journal, Winter, 2002

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