Executive Summary Stakeholder Presentation
Chilly
Executivesummarystakeholderpresentation.pptxExecutive summary stakeholder presentation
The social problem being addressed
The last few decades has experienced a spike among police officers that are using deadly force against minority groups. This has led to countless incidents of disproportionate killing of Blacks in the US by members of police forces. Although the legal standards in the United states normalize the use of force by police forces, they regulations are soiled with decades of bias and therefore do not adhere with international law. The problem does not end with police officers but extends across the key players in the criminal justice system resulting in over 70% of individuals incarcerated to be from minority group particularly blacks. Similarly, the grand jury process and prosecutors tasked with prosecuting officers that kill blacks is tainted with implicit bias contributing to the never-ending cycle of police brutality (Gaines & Kappeler, 2015).
The stakeholders group
This presentation is aims to highlight the plight of injustice that minority face each day in the streets and at the corridors of justice to the various administrative and prosecutorial authorities tasked with exercising jurisdiction indiscriminately (Feder, 2012). They include public prosecutors at the district, county or state level operating within government agencies and institutions.
When tasked with the enormous task of holding rogue police officers accountable, public prosecutors often find themselves in prosecutorial conflict resulting in loss of public confidence in their capability to fulfil their administrative duties.
While they hold different role and perform distinct responsibilities, police officers and prosecutors are professional allies as they are accustomed to being on the same team as law enforcement agents. Thus, the police-prosecutor relationship threatens prosecutorial legitimacy raising questions regarding their neutrality and aggressive (Feder, 2012).
Role of criminal justice system
The human service organization I seek to improve is the criminal justice system ensuring they perform their professional duties and responsibilities without interfering with the competency of the legislative and executive powers.
Since police officers are held accountable to a different standard when it comes to criminal prosecution, trials of police officers charged with abuse of their position leading to harm and even death of racial and ethnic minorities are rare (MacAlister, 2011).
Analysis of chosen social problem
According to comprehensive statistics and experts opinion, the reason why there has been no substantial improvement in police accountability and decline in use of deadly force among law enforcement officers is attributed to the fact that prosecuting officers for crimes such as murder, manslaughter assault and battery is hard (Cole et al., 2014).
There are several reasons why local criminal prosecutors often choose not to pursue cases filed against officers involved in police misconduct include;
1. There is a long tradition of a professional relationship between local prosecutors and police officers as they work collaboratively in their law enforcement capacity to successfully prosecute other criminals (Cole et al., 2014).
2. police officers accused of criminal behavior are subjected to special proceedings which often protect them therefore normalizing their criminal behavior and brutality.
3. it is very challenging to convince juries that an officers action was intentional and purposefully committed a crime.
Role of amnesty international towards reducing incidents of deadly force and increasing police accountability
Achievements
Raise awareness from the local to national level regarding the lack of police accountability and use of deadly force.
Used legislative channels to champion ambitious reform programs which has seen progress towards implementation of reform packages (Cole et al., 2014).
Increased engagement among district, state and state representatives regarding the need of alternative approaches to policing.
Challenges
Failed to ensure compliance and approval of policies designed to prevent the excessive use of force among law enforcement officials.
Theoretical framework informing the research project
The critical race theory is an appropriate model for highlighting the circumstances faced by ethnic and racial minority groups at the hands of law enforcement officers within American culture. The core hypothesis supporting critical race theory is that discrimination is not a single deed but relatively prevalent in American culture and engraved within its laws, traditions and social groups (Delgado & Stefancic, 2012).
Critical race theory is coupled with racial profiling which is attributed to the superficial state of racism within the criminal justice system and in particular the law enforcement agencies.
Critical race theory exceeds in highlighting how disproportionately the legal system, the criminal justice system and institutions are biased and impartial against people of racial and ethnic minorities.. Thus, it offers Amnesty International tremendous insight regarding the deeply-rooted issues and biases surrounding the topic of racial profiling (Delgado & Stefancic, 2012).
This framework offers feedback to Amnesty international regarding the current trend of racial profiling and role of white privilege in radicalizing discrimination through specific legislation.
Recommendations for solutions against deadly force and police brutality
Reevaluation of law enforcement policies that outline discriminatory objectives resulting in stereotyping, racial profiling and law enforcement biases towards African Americans and other minority groups (Burton et al., 2010).
Diversity training of law enforcement officers and modification of police strategies that have often proved to be ineffective in
Developing strategies and outreach programs aimed at humanizing the constrained relationship existing between law enforcement officers and racial minority groups.
Diversification of police agencies and adoption of uniform police practices that are multicultural fostering community interaction and relationships with law enforcement officers (Burton et al., 2010).
References
MacAlister, D. (2011). The law governing racial profiling: Implications of alternative definitions of the situation. Canadian Journal of Criminology & Criminal Justice, 53(1),95.
Feder, J. (2012). Racial profiling: Legal and constitutional issues. Washington DC: Congressional Research Service.
Delgado, R., & Stefancic, J. (2012). Critical race theory: An introduction (2nd ed.). New York, NY: NYU Press.
Cole, G. F., Smith, C. E., & DeJong, C. (2014). Criminal justice in America (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning
Burton, L. M., Bonilla-Silva, E., Ray, V., Buckelew, R., & Freeman, E. H. (2010). Critical race theories, colorism, and the decade’s research on families of color. Journal of Marriage & Family, 72(3), 440-459.
Gaines, L. K., & Kappeler, V. E. (2015). Policing in America (8th ed.). New York, NY: Anderson Publishing.
