From Lombroso’s theory of criminology to Defund the Police

“From Lombroso’s theory of criminology to Defund the Police”

Read and Watch

Reading: Selection of readings on Stop and Frisk

Stop and Frisk is a very controversial policing practice associated with the New York Police Department that was declared unconstitutional and discriminatory in 2013 after being in existence for more than a decade. The main question for this week is, how does stop and frisk represent a continuation of the ways in which society has addressed urban crime since the 18005, especially with respect to the question of race and ethnicity? While answering this larger question. you are also encouraged to consider the following related set of questions: What is the logic of stop and frisk? What problems or crimes did it seek to address? Did this policing practice achieve its intended objective? How did police officers justify stopping and frisking civilians? What language did police officers use to justify their actions? Where in the city did the NYPD focus most of its efforts? Which neighborhoods? Who were the primary targets? Discuss the tension within the NYPD over this kind of policing. especially between captains and officers? How did the New York City Police Department ensure the continuity of this kind of policing through its evaluation and promotion procedures? Why, despite all the data pointing towards racial bias and ineffective outcomes. did stop and frisk policing last for so long before being declared unconstitutional?