In your reading for this Unit there is a section on Biased Based Policing. There
ID: 398250 • Letter: I
Question
In your reading for this Unit there is a section on Biased Based Policing. There has been a great deal of discussion in policing recently about bias. Define Implicit and Explicit Bias and provide an example of each. Then, express what you believe an officer can do to overcome their biases in their dealings with the public.
CHAPTER 8 POLICE ETHICS AND POLICE DEVIANCE 243 domestic violence center named after Crystal and the implementation of new policies and procedures regarding police officer-involved domestic violence. or ethnic background rather than on behavior as basis for identifying that individual as being involved in criminal activity. Police may not use race or ethnic- Another relevant case is that of Drew Peterson ity to decide whom to stop or search, but they may use a former sergeant and 29-year police veteran with it to determine whether an individual matches a spe- the Bolingbrook, Illinois, Police Department. In late cific description of a suspect.7 The difficulty arises 2007, when his 24-year-old fourth wife, Stacy, went in the validity of stops when police are investigating a missing and left her two young children, Peterson crime committed by a group of individuals who may quickly became a suspect and subsequently resigned share ethnic or racial characteristics. Some criminal from his police position. Oddly enough, he made enterprises are composed of persons with similar eth the talk show rounds proclaiming his innocence. He nic, racial, or national origins, but under this defini maintained his wife had run away with a boyfriend, ion, using this characteristic as a determining factor but her family disputed that. It also came to light that could be interpreted as racial profiling.5 tacy had voiced a concern for her safety regarding her During the 1990s, racial profiling became a hot husband. Pursuant to her disappearance, the death of topic in the media. New terms were coined, such as Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio, in 2004 was "driving while black (DWB)." The media attention reopened. It had been recorded as a drowning, but brought the topic up for discussion in communities her body was exhumed and an autopsy determined A srvey indicated that 53 percent of Americans that she died as a result of a struggle,drowning when believed that police engaged in racial profiling, and her unconscious body was placed in the bathtub. She 69 percent disagreed with the practice. The percep had filed an order of protection against Peterson, and tion of the prevalence of the problem varied slightly her family had long suspected it was not an accident. by race, with 56 percent of whites and 77 percent of Peterson's second wife also raised issues of increas African Americans responding that racial profil ingly controlling behavior, threats, and abuse. The ing was widely used by police. Six percent of whites police did in fact respond to some calls, but the offi and 42 percent of African Americans felt they had cers were his friends and no report was ever written been stopped by the police because of their race, and Peterson was convicted of killing Savio in 2013 and is a staggering 72 percent of African American males currently serving a 38-year sentence.56 Stacy is pre between 18 and 34 believed they had been stopped sumed dead, and though he has not been charged, Peterson is a suspect. because of their race The perception of racial profiling correlates with animosity toward police in a community. According to a Gallup poll, African American respondents had a lower opinion of police (58 percent had a favorable opinion of local police, and 64 percent favor- Biased-based policing has emerged as an impor bly viewed state police) than white respondents tant issue in communities in the last two decades. (85 percent and 87 percent, respectively). Fifty-three But, in reality, the government has faced this prob percent of African American males between 18 and lem since Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown . 34 said they had been treated unfairly by police.60 Board of Education of Topeka (1954). Providing Recently, the Department of Justice found that among equal protection and equal opportunity is a critical a traffic stops nationwide, though all races were issue to the American people, but sometimes police stopped at similar rates by police, African American behavior seems to contradict those values. When 12.3 percent) and Hispanics (5.8 percent) were more severity in likely to be searched during their stops than whites the 1980s and 1990s in an attempt to fight the rising (3.9 percent). Of those drivers who were physically crime rate and escalating drug problem, the com searched, over 36 percent felt the search was not legit munity began to notice and speak out. The issue of imate and almost 21 percent of those whose vehicle 0 Biased-Based Policing this behavior increased in frequency and whether this was proper police procedure or ethical police behavior was raised biased-based policing Any palice-initiated activity that relies an a person's race ar ethnic background rather than on behav- biasbased policing, is generally defined as any r as a basis for identfying that individual as being involved in Racial profiling, the term commonly used for police-initiated activity that relies on a person's race criminal activityExplanation / Answer
ans 1=Explicit bias is wilful bias whereas implicit bias is a subconscious one .Everybody has a instinctive implicit bias & an explicit ‘cognitive’ bias. It is an element of being human & what moulds our attitudes & acts .
Explicit bias can, & usually should be restrained & self-censored as a matter of respect. It is wilful & controllable.
When things go awry with regard to social relationships, particularly with regard to how we behave towards out-groups, it is usually because we fail to restrain our explicit bias.
Implicit bias is more complicated due to its subconscious / ingrained nature. For instance, we are instinctually/ naturally partial toward our in-groups (such as our family) & prejudiced against our out-groups (such as strangers).
ans 2=Few police departments have put in place guidelines that simply declare that race cannot be a factor/ can merely be one factor, in the decisions to make arrests, stop a vehicle etc. Policies must cover discipline, & must differentiate between explicit & implicit bias. If a cop does demonstrate a tendency toward overtly discriminatory behavioural pattern, the matter must be quickly & effectually tackled by a supervisor, preferably supported by well-defined policies .On the other hand, in situations of probable implicit bias—patterns that might be going on external to the cops’ conscious control then it may not be apt to formally discipline the police officer. A better response is to facilitate a positive contact among groups; conversation; training intended to augment awareness of implicit bias. A cop should comprehend his own impact on particular communities & should learn to beat defensiveness whilst simply trying to do the correct thing. We are all subject to emotions, but making police officers aware of the role implicit bias has in their interactions proves effective in keeping them & the communities which they serve much safer