Politics and Policing

Politics play a role in so many areas of our life. It seems we cannot have a conversation about public health, crime, food, alcohol and drugs, sports, etc. without it getting political.  As I am sure many of you would agree, the case is no different when we’re talking about the police.  Both conservative and liberal-leaning social groups have something to say about policing and the role of law enforcement in society.  At times, the nexus between politics and policing has manifested in social movements like #BlackLivesMatter, #BlueLivesMatter, and #TheThinBlueLine.  It is evident in criminal justice policies, such as the War on Drugs, Jim Crow Laws, Thin Blue Line Act, and the American Law Enforcement Heroes Act, and it is seemingly ubiquitous in popular media and news segments.  It would be safe to say we are constantly being bombarded with rhetoric, which makes separating fact from fiction a daunting task. Nevertheless, it must be done!

For this discussion, I would like you to think about the relationship between politics and policing. Specifically, what role do you believe politics should play in the policing process? Do you think politicians and political discussions should be left on the sideline so the professional can do their job, or do you believe politicians and political discourse is essential to a functioning criminal justice system? In your response, I would like you to outline the arguments for and against the integration of politics in the criminal justice institution broadly and in law enforcement policies and practices specifically. Consider the pros and cons of each and support your position(s) using real-world evidence/examples.