Hot Spot Policing and Racial Profiling, Essay Example

Abstract

Law enforcement officials face many difficult challenges in conducting their routine activities. It is necessary to address these concerns to develop new strategic approaches to fight crime and in order to make the streets safer for all communities. One innovative concept to consider is hot spot policing, which is typically utilized in high-crime areas to reduce crime in the immediate area and also in the surrounding areas by extension. As a result, it is important to recognize the advantage of this practice in these special areas. In using this concept as related to racial profiling, the latter practice is quite controversial and must be addressed carefully so as not to depend upon this practice to improve policing and related activities. The demand for hot spot policing appears to be high, but this practice must be executed carefully without racial profiling as part of the process.

Analysis

Hot spot policing is a positive means of promoting safety in many communities; however, it also leads to other challenges, particularly when racial profiling is of key concern. In conducting hot spot policing, law enforcement officers must be visibly aware of the different challenges that are relevant in this practice in order to determine how to conduct this practice without racial profiling. The latter concept is highly controversial and for good reason, as this practice should be considered a negative concept in the eyes of law enforcement officials. At the same time, hot spot policing provides a basis for the exploration of communities where there are pockets of crime in high numbers. This is an advantage for many communities, particularly in metropolitan areas, and it supports the development of new strategies that are instrumental in shaping outcomes for these communities. However, this practice must be conducted with a high degree of professionalism and ethical integrity to ensure that these policies and procedures are met accordingly. Law enforcement officials should be apprised of the actions taking place in their communities, but should also adhere to existing laws and regulations in the process.

Although hot spot policing is important and beneficial to some communities, it nonetheless requires police officers to be particularly careful when working specific areas where the majority of the population may be minorities. From the policing perspective, it is known that many law enforcement officials target specific population groups because prior statistics demonstrate that these groups are most likely to commit the majority of crimes in these areas (Harris, 1999). Therefore, it is necessary to consider these statistics when establishing hot spots in order to determine the most effective means of approaching crime in these communities (Harris, 1999). Without a clear vision in place in regards to hot spots, it is likely that there will be consequences to pay, particularly when law enforcement officials take matters into their own hands and do not consider the risks associated with racial profiling in these communities (Harris, 1999). Therefore, a balance must be drawn when using hot spot techniques, while also considering other factors which may play a role in shaping how crime is fought in these communities as a whole (Harris, 1999). These factors are integral components of hot spot policing and how it relates to modern law enforcement roles and responsibilities.

Braga and Bond (2008) argue that there must be a balance within communities in regards to approaching crimes, and that by using community-based resources, it is possible to achieve greater outcomes. This method is preferred to specifically targeting groups, such as teenagers, who might be viewed as part of a gang. This is an important step towards the discovery of new methods that will incorporate police officers into community-based settings on a more collaborative scale, rather than approaching these concerns in other ways that could lead to negative results (Braga and Bond, 2008). The nature of some police departments is to exercise extreme authority without regard for communities. In addition, this practice may lead to additional problems for these communities. Disorder which occurs in many communities should not be viewed as a racial issue; rather, it should be viewed from a more general perspective, using the crimes themselves as the means, rather than focusing on who is actually committing them (Eisenhower Foundation). In this context, it is important for law enforcement officials to recognize their contributions to this practice and the steps that are required to ensure that racial profiling is not an option (Eisenhower Foundation). This framework will establish a greater precedent for achieving new outcomes for a given community, and will encourage law enforcement to take steps that will promote collaboration rather than dissidence (Eisenhower Foundation).

Conclusion

In exploring these concepts further, racial profiling is a serious problem that law enforcement officials should not adopt when utilizing hot spot techniques.  This practice is not only demeaning, but it also reflects a negative capacity to support growth and success within established communities. Keeping these communities intact and focused on fighting crime is the key priority, rather than emphasizing other less relevant factors in the process. It is important to recognize these attributes and to consider other relevant factors so that local police perform their roles appropriately and with the best interests of their communities in mind at all times. This will ensure that safety and security are maximized as best as possible.

References

Braga, A.A., and Bond, B.J. (2008). Policing crime and disorder hot spots: a randomized controlled trial. Criminology, 46(3): 577-607.

Eisenhower Foundation. Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders: Summary of Report. Retrieved from http://www.eisenhowerfoundation.org/docs/kerner.pdf

Harris, D.A.  (1999). The stories, the statistics, and the law: why “driving while black” matters. 84 Minnesota Law Review: 265-326.