Police & Society

Our perception of the police holds high value in today’s society. History has shown that a community that has a negative perception about its police department can result in some form of negative consequences. The use of force does play its part in the public’s perception as well. In this essay I will address both issues as well as others relating to this topic.

If we trust the police we are more likely to call them in time of need or to report a crime. A reason we trust the police, is that we view them as legitimate. Police need the public’s full cooperation and for us to abide by their laws. “It is difficult for to gain social compliance on solely via threat of use of force,” (Tyler 1990). One reason we choose to follow the rules they enforce is that we view them as legitimate. Legitimacy goes a long way in policing, it can help the police establish effective partnerships within the community. Partnerships and informal relationships can lead to a high amount of voluntary participation which is beneficial. According to Tom Tyler author of Enhancing Police Legitimacy he states that public cooperation in fighting crime is motivated by evidence that the police are performing effectively in their efforts to control crime and urban disorder(Tyler 1990). Establishing these partnerships and relationships within the community can help the officer more cooperation from the community. This can prove to be vital when searching for witnesses and information.

In the community I live in police have difficulty having witnesses come forward. A reason this exists has to do with a socio economic factor. Salinas mainly an agricultural hub is divided by its classes in terms of capital. The low income section of the city is where most crimes occur thus is most affordable. Many undocumented illegal immigrants also reside in this area known as “East Salinas.” Crimes committed in that area frequently go unreported, and the residents fear the police. There is almost no police cooperation because residents are afraid they might get deported. The gangs that reside in the area have shed countless amounts of lives and commit many criminal acts. This issue I believe does not exist just in my town this is becoming a national issue. The population of minorities within this country is at an all time high.

There needs to be some set of reforms to adequately deal with this issue. Community orientated policing is a way to get the community involved and get voluntary participation. It can prove to be effective crime deterrent because community policing establishes a visual presence in the community it serves . “Community police officers have more autonomy than patrol officers and use more of problem solving approach to their work.” “These officers supposedly encourage citizen feedback and incorporate it into subsequent policies and practices.” (Websdale 2001)

The use of force by a Police Department can definitely affect its public perception. What came out of the Rodney King beating will forever be remembered. In that case four white Las Angeles Police officers were caught on tape beating a black man who was evading their presence. Police brutality issues were raised. The community revolted and stared rioting for four days protesting and showing their outlook. They believed the beatings to be racially motivated. In it caused 2,383 injuries and 52 deaths not to mention almost a billion dollars worth of damage.

The New Orleans Police Department in the early 1990’s lost all its credibility with the community they served and illustrates a negative example . Corruption was abundant in that police force. The public lost all trust in the police and did not view them as legitimate. The people of New Orleans were afraid to call them in time of need or to report any crimes. It was almost impossible for that police force to be effective in the community they served. For order to be restored nearly the entire force was replaced including its captain. Since then the New Orleans Police Department has regained its credibility with the community it serves. Today’s police officers need to be free of any racial biases. This has a lot to do with the ethics and morals they pose. The officers that serve our community have to hold the upmost integrity. Selecting the right officers to do the job is essential. This can eliminate any cases of officer misconduct and abuse of force.

Ultimately the public will be pleased with the service they are receiving from dedicated officers. Thus raising their perception of the police which will result in eliminating any negative stigma’s.

Colombia's Most Notorious Prison: La Modelo Aka La Picota

Colombia has a national population of 44,050,000. According to the International Centre for prison studies 60,158 are incarcerated in prison. The country is an atmosphere that breeds corruption. This can be largely attributed to the cocaine trade. Drug Cartels fight for control of the drug trade which leads to violence. Prison population has swelled and the country does not have enough facilities to accommodate. As many as 19 people are smashed into a cell fit to hold four. In certain instances inmates are forced to lie on top of one another. Since 1992 there has been almost a 50 % increase in prisoners. My paper will focus on Colombia’s outdated prison system and its changes to create a more modern facility.

The most notorious prison within the country is La Picota AKA “La Modelo”. The facility is located in the capital of Bogota. It houses approximately 5,000 prisoners who are among their countries most violent offenders. The North part of the prison consists of the Left Wing Rebels which include the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). In the Southern end of the facility, right wing government supporters and paramilitaries have control. The area that lies in between is where most of the violence and killings happen. The gangs basically run the prison. There is a dungeon one gang has in operation. There are also established restraunts throughout the facility. Many are run by prison gangs but there are several run by individuals. These individuals must pay the tax to the gang monthly. One restraunts run by the FARC gives free food to its members. A factor that makes this establishment so dangerous is that prisoners have access to guns including those that are automatic. Prison guards do not carry weapons except the guards in the watchtower. Most guns are smuggled into the prison and the going rate is $ 1,000. The corruption that exists in prison staff allows inmates use cell phones and even have satellite communication. This allows them to still run their criminal operations, which include drug dealing, kidnapping and extortion. There is a practice known as the “Ciambiazo” or big change. An Inmate changes places with an outside visitor who is paid around 2,000-5,000 dollars.

There have been significant events in the prison that has lead to changes. On April 27, 2005 there were 25 inmates killed in a fight. The event captured attention worldwide and eventually lead to a prison documentary by the Discovery Channel. The next event occurred June 21, 2001, where 100 inmates escaped after members of the FARC blew hole in the wall. Soon after FARC commander Jorge Briceno stated, “The group had claimed responsibility and that it would continue to carry out such actions to free captured comrade from jail”. What followed was the forced resignation of Fabio Campos Silva, who was Director of the Colombia National Penitentiary Institute (INPEC). Inpec has been criticized for being corrupt. As of March 700 out of 4,00 employees have been fired at LA Modelo prison that includes five Chief Wardens. With so much negative attention on the prison there have been several reforms. A three month “Prison emergency,” was ordered. INPEC was also given the authority to fire guards suspected of corruption. Also INPEC arranged the transfer of several inmates to other jails 100 have been moved so far. All shops and restraunts in the prison are closed. Security has also been beefed up but guns still exist throughout. A special antenna has been placed near the facility to stop all incoming and outgoing cellular phone signals along with satellite communication.

The government is now building several modern high risk jails which are planned to hold high risk inmates. Some of the funds for the new jails have been provided by the U.S. government. Our government has long shown their unease towards Colombia’s Criminal Justice system. In March of this year La Modelo was closed due after a human rights inspection from the Attorney General. The Human Right Individuals who inspected noted many of the inmates suffered from ill health and psychological orders. Also noted was that the outdated facility had little access to rehabilitation programs. From what I have learned this semester is that rehabilition is essential in reducing the amount of recidivism among offenders. Several unjust treatments also have been discovered, powerful criminals with money are able to use their money to get smaller sentences along with special treatment. A convicted car thief reported to the New York Times that “Guards in the prison charged $12 for certificates of good behavior were duly processed and about $ 350 to allow an inmate out on furlough.” He also said,” guards charged prisoners to be transferred to better cells, to sleep alone and even make local calls.” This kind of special treatment in exchange for money has been going on for years. Drug dealers with money are given little time in prison.

Despite our efforts to help Colombia create a more modern Criminal Justice and penal system there is a long ways to go. There have been no thorough reforms within its prisons. 54% of the prison budget spent to house maximum security inmates, who only account for 1 percent. This absolutely has no logic behind it. Some prisoners go starving while other feast. Setting up a budget coupled with a broad set of reforms that include some form of rehabilitation can prove to be beneficial. There is a long way to go and a lot of improvement to be made for Colombia’s prison system to become more modernized. It is obvious the country cannot accomplish this task alone but with the help from countries such as the U.S. it is achievable.

Affirmative Action

Affirmative Action on Other Stakeholders, is an article that was written by Barbara Reskin in 1998. The central theme of the paper is about affitmitave action, which aimed at reducing inequality towards women and minorities within the work force The researcher discuses how it does not promote reverse discrimination and does not hinder business productivity. Reverse discrimination is a prejudice against majority group members. According to the author, 70 to 80 go percent of white men think that affirmative action discriminates against whites (Reskin 2008).

There is a big misconception that less qualified candidates are promoted and hired through affirmitvie action. The evidence the artice highlights was a study conducted of more than 3,00 entry level workers who were recently hired in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit and Los Angelas (Reskin 2008). A performance evaluation was conducted of the women and minorities hired through the affirmitave aciotn process. The results showed that the women and minorities performed to the same level in regards to performance. Affirmative action plays an important role in maintaining equality. What I found most interesting from reading the article was how large companies that have nore than 50 workers, are required to give written affirmative action plans. While working for a large company I felt like I was hired through affirmative action. Most employeeof the company was predominately white middle aged males. My brother and I were hired on the spot as behavior specialists. We were plugged into a school which all employees of my position weere young, chicano latino males. I believe we were hired to fill the void for this ethnicity, socio economic class and age. This form of affirmative action is not illegal and it a tool to help employers make a balance of race and gender.

However targeting certain race, gender, and age can lead to hiring unqualified employees who are not screened correctly. This is what I witnessed when my company sent us a long term sunstitute who was just like myselsf a yound ages, Mexican American. His work ethic was poor and did he do not belonog working with autistic children. This is an example of how targeting certain races, genders and age groups gthrough affirmitave action can backfire. Reskin, Barbara. (1998). The effects of affirmative action on other stakeholders. In T. Ore (Ed.), The Social Construction of Difference and Inequality (pp.74-84) (4th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

An Analysis Between Autism & Violence Slideshow

Today one in 2500 persons are found to have some form of autism. It affects many children from birth. Males are four times more likely than females to have this disorder. A common characteristic of autism is lack of a normal intelligence and moral reasoning. Some have an obscure way of speaking as well as deficient non verbal communication skills (Newman & Ghaziuddin 2008). It is also difficult for an autistic person to share their feelings with others. There is a strong correlation between Aspereger syndrome and violent crime (Mawson, Grounds, & Tantum (1985). Those who are affected by autism have been described as, lacking a conscience and feelings. Some individuals affected by Autism partake in aggressive and self injurious behavior. This can be attributed to their lack of impulse control, or a failure to recognize their personal space. Tending to autistic children/adults often requires physical force in order to protect them from hurting themselves, others, or property. With a staggering amount of the male population affected by autism it can be a challenge for law enforcement in dealing with them.

Marijuana Laws: Prop 215

Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in the U.S. It is depicted as negative by the government and the mainstream media. It has also been labeled a gateway drug. Which means marijuana can lead users into using harder substances; such as cocaine or heroin. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2004 an estimated 14.6 million Americans 12 years or older have tried the drug. This can be attributed to the fact that it is easily available in almost every state despite being illegal.

Henry Hanslinger the director for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was a leading advocate against marijuana. Hanslinger claimed marijuana caused temporary insanity and people to commit violent crimes. He had a notion that it was the worst thing ever. Hanslinger helped establish that 1937 marijuana tax act, which made the substance illegal.

Currently research suggests that “Heavy use of cannabis produces inflammation in the lining of the repertory system, including pre cancerous conditions.” (Beltrame 2001) However Dr. John Morgan a New York based Pharmacologist and author of the book Marijuana myths says otherwise. He states in his book Marijuana Myths: Marijuana Facts that “A succession of anti-drug U.S. governments have labored over the years to make the case against marijuana. Cannabis is not a major cancer risk for the simple reason that the drug does not lend itself to heavy continual use, as doe’s tobacco he says. Nor do pot smokers appear to develop emphysema, the serious repertory disease common among tobacco smokers” (Beltrame 2001)

Marijuana is near the bottom of all addictive substances while heroin is the most addictive. A survey conducted of clinicians and researchers by the Psychology department at the University of Southern California discovered that caffeine and alcohol rank higher in addiction than marijuana. You don’t see people robbing for a cup of coffee. Thus you can make the assumption it is unlikely someone would commit crime to support a marijuana habit. What you do see is crime in relation to highly addictive substances.

On November 6, 2007 the voters of Santa Cruz passed Measure K which would make adult marijuana offenses the lowest law enforcement priority. Similar laws have been passed in West Hollywood, Oakland, Seattle, and Denver. Those who are in support of the measure may have several reasons why it is good for their city. Police spend countless hours apprehending marijuana offenders. In 2005 police in Santa Cruz arrested more than 270 non violent adult marijuana users. Most were cited and let go. In California 85% of those punished by the three strikes law were non violent offenders. Instead of wasting resources arresting and dealing with these non violent offenders, police could concentrate on more severe issues within the city. Such as the gang activity which is quickly becoming an issue. It is plain and clear that marijuana is easily available within the United States. Rather than being ignorant to the issue as many are. Moving forward in a positive manner setting reforms on the drug is something each city should take into account.

However in contrary there are many reasons this measure may not be a perfect fit for the city. In the local newspaper several residents have expressed their disagreement. Mike Bethke a downtown resident and father of two stated, “It sends the wrong message to our kids and the rest of the country that Santa Cruz is a haven for those who smoke pot. “There is a possibility thatthis measure could taint the city’s image in a negative manner. Santa Cruz is an upscale oceanside community nestled on California Central Coast the last thing it would want is any kind of labeling as one of the residents previously expressed.

The Goal of measure K as mentioned before was to give police more time and resources to fight crime within their city. Funding for the measure which totaled $ 70,000 was mainly provided by Peter Lewis an insurance broker who believes in legalizing the drug. There were 3,400 signatures collected from registered city voters. Which eventually lead to the measuring passing by 60 %.

Rising court costs coupled with staffing a larger police force are issues many cities face. Cities such as Madison Wisconsin serve as a model example of the decriminalization of Marijuana. Within Dane County those caught with less than 25 grams do not face criminal prosecution and only face a fine. The fine only amounts to $109 much less than that of Fitchburg a neighboring city where violators pay $1,300 and have to appear in court as well. District Attorney Brian Branchard can be largely credited to adopting the ordinance. He saw his county understaffed and having a problems associated with alcohol and heroin. Marijuana posed little threat when compared to the violent crimes such as sexual and physical assaults and homicides that occur.

Alaska is a state that does not have criminal penalties for those charged with personal use or cultivation of marijuana (Gettman 1987). They base their right on the state’s constitution

that allows the right to privacy. There are also over a dozen other states that allow judges to use their own discretion when dealing with marijuana cases (Gettman 1987). These penalties range

from a simple fine up to incarceration in some instances. As you can see Marijuana laws vary in

state to state California has some of the most liberal practices.

Proposition 215 allows the usage and sale of medicinal medical marijuana. This practice

is legal in California as well as eight other states. Eddy Lepp has a particular interest in the drug he was the first person arrested, tried and acquitted under proposition 215. He is also the National Director of the Medical Marijuana Association (King 2003). Lepp is a legendary grower in the Bay Area. He supplies numerous marijuana dispensaries all over the region. “Twice a month Eddy organizes for dozens of sick people to meet with a doctor who understands the benefits of medical marijuana. This has earned him a special place in the eyes of the locals and law enforcement” (King 2003). Eddy’s garden was soon raided by the feds and in the end no charges were filed. He is now in litigation to try and get his property and restitution from the DEA.

A group who has a particular interest in the drug is WAMM (Women’s/ Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana). Mike and Valerie Corral the founders created a safe haven for sick patients to come together and grow their medicine. Unfortunately in 2003 the garden was raided. 250 patients lost their medicine 85% of them were terminally ill. The public in Santa Cruz supported the Corral’s and the city council voted to deputize the couple to grow marijuana. U.S. Representative Sam Farr commented on the subject. He said, “The DEA should focus on more pressing woes, with all the difficult problems the world faces, I find it hard to believe the DEA should further punish sick people, most of whom are terminally ill, by arresting them and carting them off to jail. This is truly outrageous.”

There is a deep historical relationship between marijuana and society. The drug can be closely related to the ethnic minority. The Mexican farm laborers used the drug to relax after a hard day’s work in the fields. Charles A. Jones, The Chief of Police for Los Angeles, said that Hashish grows wild in Mexico.” In Louisiana, a predominately African American region, marijuana was used by early Jazz musicians. Though it is debatable topic, most of the early marijuana laws were created to oppress the ethnic minority. Evidence of that can be seen in the creation of the 1956 Narcotic Control Act, which put marijuana in the same categories as heroin. There was a minimum sentence of 2-6 years and in Missouri a second conviction could get your life. In our current society many people of color “Shy away from medical cannabis as a support for or treatment of medical conditions because of the social stigma attached and as a way of distancing themselves from stereotypical associations with cannabis.” (Sanchez)

My relationship and perception of the substance has changed since seeing many of the positive benefits first hand. There are numerous medical benefits from using cannabis. My brother suffers from crone’s disease, which is an inflammation of the intestines and affects one’s ability to consume food. He has undergone many tests at Stanford University Hospital seeking advice from numerous doctors. None of the remedies or tradition methods such as pills seemed to work. Since using medical marijuana there has been a significant positive change in his life and coping with this lifelong disease

There is also a historical relationship attached with female users of the drug. Many are afraid to “Come out of the closet” and admit using the drug in fear of loss of child custody or being labeled. However a man has nothing to lose because it is more socially acceptable. “The use of Marijuana as medicine has been passed from mother to daughter in the more indigenous populations of Mexico, and the Americas.”(Beltrame). To combat these fears women are facing in today’s society. Marijuana dispensaries have implemented different policies and procedures. For instance, dispensaries are more professional and many have visible security creating a more comfortable atmosphere. Currently there are a handful of women at the front lines fighting for marijuana advocacy. “They are active in dispensaries across the state of California and throughout all aspects of the medical marijuana community”. We need more women such as these to break down social barriers.

The Farm: Life inside Angola Prison

I watched a movie about the Angola Prison which I borrowed from the IRC. The infamous Angola Prison is located in Louisiana. The nickname given to the prison is called the Farm. The fact that it the land it is built on was a slave plantation I believe takes an even greater emotional toll on its African American Inmates.The prison grows its own crops which the inmates take care of. In the past inmates have protested against the hard work and brutality It is the largest prison in America with 1800 acres. It has a label of being the most dangerous and bloody institution. The prison resembles a town built within prison gates and it employees over 1800 workers and has around 5,000 inmates. Warden Burl Cain has an open door policy with the media, this led to the creation of the documentary the farm which I viewed.

In 1997 900 men were sent to Angola prison and 70 % of them were African American. They view punishment as rehabilitation where minorities systematicallywould take longer to rehab than middle class white people. But under what grounds would you distinguish if theses individuals where rehabilitated.

New Orleans Police Dept 1990’s

Values and morals go hand in hand with the decisions police officers make and the duties they perform. The police officer is the only occupation where you can take one’s life. With that kind of power it is essential that an officer cherishes their values and morals. Part of being an officer means balancing decisions. Religion, experience, professionalism, personal, and legal issues all impact our decision making. An example of balancing legal and personal issues is the use of the officer’s discretion to give a ticket. It his legal obligation to ticket speeders, however the subject speeding had a significant reason relating to a medical issue. Now the officer has to balance his decision making, which varies from officer to officer.

The New Orleans Police Department in the early 1990’s was the most corrupt police agency in all America. This department set an example of a police force full of officers that lacked any kind of values or morals. Without an integrity and criminal background check many recruits entered the department that did not posses police like qualities. The police force was accountable for robbing drug dealers, banks and committing murders. A contributing factor for them committing these crimes were the low pay. Many officers felt they had to supplement their income with illegal acts. Another factor was the atmosphere they surrounded themselves around. Some Police officers worked in bars and nightclubs as security in an atmosphere that breeds corruption. The public lost all trust in the police and would stop calling them to report crime. It took years and a lot of weeding out to finally get department back up and running. This department now serves as a model of how essential it is to find an officer those posses positive values and morals.

Values and Morals also impact the decisions officers make within their subculture. Are they willing to rat on another officer? An officer that is loyal to his partner and agency is highly unlikely to. This will form a tight knit group within the agency which is good because everyone feels like someone’s got their back. Dealing with victims is another issue that falls under the police subculture. Does the officer posses low or high self esteem? In that kind of work it is easy to take your work home with you. An officer who has high self esteem is less likely to engage in this kind of activity. An ideal police officer in our day and age is someone who has high values and morals if all officers were like that there would be a lot of more trust within them.

Legitimacy of police is largely attributed to fairness among many others factors. Do we view the police as fair? This is going to determine if were going to call them for help. Trust is a big issue as well, especially for minorities. If we view the police as legitimate is going to determine how well we cooperate with them. Another is second hand experience, which the information is usually passed around social groups. The police need the public’s cooperation as well as them to abide by the laws which they enforce. Therefore they want to be viewed as legitimate to society.

The Whole Rodney king incident tainted the LAPD’s reputation. Many blacks as well as hispanics lost all respect and trust for that department during that era. They began rebelling and rioting to protest. All social order was lost, and so was the public’s perception about police legitimacy. According to Tom Tyler, “To be effective as maintainers of social order the police must be widely obeyed”. (Tyler). Being a minority in our society it is hard to trust a white cop and that may lead to many other issues. However a Caucasian may have total trust in police officer.

Legitimacy is related to our democratic values as we are a country based on equal rights. Therefore it is the duty of law enforcement to act in professional and equal manner to all citizens of the United States whether they be black white or brown. Another democratic value we cherish is the balance of power. As local authorities as well as legislative authorities can control police power and change procedures. There is also an internal investigations unit that moniters police misbehavior.

As we move more into the twentieth century our country is becoming more diverse from ethnicities to religion. I would like to see a lot more of minorities be hired into the police department. Just as how a white person is likely to trust a white cop. I’m sure this can be applied to all ethnicities. Finally It essential for all law enforcement well aware of that and keep a legitimate perception in the public’s opinion. This will significantly make their job alot easier.