media review essay

For the past several years, the NYPD has been at the center of a controversy because of their Stop-and-Frisk policy and practices.  Critics say that Stop-and-Frisks unjustly target communities of color and produce very little results (drugs, weapons, arrests).  The NYPD maintains that these practices only occur in "high crime areas" and are a method of proactive policing. Most statistics agree that crime rates are at their lowest in years.  For your final media review, we will be discussing a video we viewed in class.  This time, keep in mind the following questions:

Making reference to Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow and other readings, discuss the following video.  Here are some questions to keep in mind: Is this an effective model of urban policing (remember: NYC has 8 million people)? If yes, how so?  If no, why not? Is this an instance of institutionalized racism through racial profiling and a violation of citizens' fourth amendment rights?  If yes, how so?  If no, why not?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jqXeW5C324

Format:

590-620 words

12pt font

1 inch margins