Reviewing a Sample Grant Proposal

M3A2 - Community Relations Paper

Shanna Scanlan

SOC490 – Liberal Arts Capstone

Argosy University

July 4, 2018

Drug and substance abuse remains a predominant menace that the California state government has made significant efforts to fight with their struggles being rendered futile. The use of repressive drug laws has increased cases of incarceration among African Americans & Latinos, something that has not proven effective in addressing the issue in question. According to Gootman (2014), the number of people who have so far faced imprisonment because of drug and substance abuse is alarming.

Community policing is the effective approach proposed to address the issue in question here. It is important to underscore the fact that there is a causal relationship between drug and substance abuse and criminality. It is for this reason that close to 40% of the criminals held in California State prisons are either serial drug addicts, sellers or buyers. Since immemorial, the Drug Enforcement agency has intensified war on drugs by enforcing drug laws and ensuring those found in possession, sale or farming of illegal drugs are held culpable and subjected to the necessary legal measures.

The above approach to drug and substance abuse has proven ineffective, a clarion call for the concerned authorities to change tactic and undertake a more efficient approach that will amount to win-win situation for both the drug agencies and the victims. Community policing undertakes a holistic approach that encourages the collaboration between the enforcement agencies and the community for the purposes of information sharing, improving relations and due diligence in the war on drugs. Improving relations between the African Americans & Latinos and drug agencies will eradicate the perception of discrimination and differential treatment such that they will not be viewed as the only targets of the war on drugs (Feltes, 2018).

It is important to underscore the fact that there is not research that has pointed on specific communities and distinguished them on the basis of drug and substance abuse. Community policing has three main objectives. To start with is to intensify the war on drugs. The second one is to improve the relationships between the enforcement agencies and African Americans & Latinos. Finally, community policing seeks to reduce and eventually prevent drug-related crimes.

Since early 20th century, the controversial topic on race and addiction has remained part of the debate on public health for a long period of time. The 21st century has seen a significant change in drug dynamics. Specifically, the manner in which drugs are bought and sold as well as how people understand demographics and race has changed.

As such, the only factor that has not changed so far is the danger posed by drugs to the abusers and the entire society (Gaines, 2017). Even as we continue to learn more regarding the proverbial deadly implications of drug as well as the market behind them, it is of great significance for the enforcement agencies not to exercise their mandate in a manner that shows skewedness to a particular cultural or ethnic group.

According to Miller (2017), despite the fact the rate at which drugs are bought, sold and used among the whites and blacks is almost the same; African Americans & Latinos are 13 times more likely to face arrest on the basis of buying, selling as well as using drugs. However, this is not reflected in their white counterparts. For instance, despite the fact that African Americans & Latinos only comprise of 29% of the American population, 79% in federal and state prisons and especially for drug related offenses are African Americans & Latinos (Miller, 2017). This is a clear indication of the disproportionate rates of arrest and suspicion in this community.

As mentioned earlier, the war on drugs will continue to dwindle if the enforcement agencies continue to hold African Americans & Latinos as the greatest suspects of illegal drug trafficking and drug-related crimes. Basing such a serious issue on mere rhetoric and preconceived stereotypic depictions continues to jeopardize the welfare of the African Americans & Latinos as well as the effectiveness of the government in addressing drug issues in California.

According to Chase (2015), if one wants to win a war against an enemy, the easiest way to put them under siege is to make them part of the system. Community policing will, therefore, make African Americans & Latinos part of the war on drugs and accessing information on the same will be extremely easy for the enforcement agencies.

There are a number of implications of this proposal. To start with is improved due diligence. It is important to understand that the drug laws have not been successful because of lack of an evidence-based framework to enforce them. An evidence-based framework cannot be effective if due diligence is not undertaken. The laws have been floating in the drug wars arena coupled with little information regarding the effects and causes of the problematic use of drugs and the effectiveness of the existing repressive drug control policies (Benavie, 2017).

The war on drugs that has been skewed on the African Americans & Latinos has been found to perpetuate poverty and advanced racial divisions between the whites and African Americans & Latinos. It is for this reason that this plan is geared towards achieving a holistic approach to sale, buying and use of drugs. The well-being of the African Americans & Latinos that has been undermined for long as a result of being subjected to suspicious arrests will be taken care of and remedied with a more amiable approach to the war on drugs. In other words, it should be known that the enforcement agencies cannot win this battle alone. The intervention and participation of the community is critical.

Despite the positive impacts mentioned above, the plan advances the cost on the war on drugs on the basis of time and financial resources. Notably, creating confidence in the community that was initially subjected to differential treatment to participate actively on the war on drugs necessitates time and lots of convincing.

The change of tactic will require the members of the community regarding the significance of the war on drugs, why collective efforts are required to win it and the positive ramifications accrued by the individuals, community and the society in general at the end of it all. This hence comes with a hefty cost. However, considering the devastating consequences of drugs on human health and instigating drug-related crimes, the long-term benefits are immense.

There are a number of ways in which this proposal can be modified to address the particular concerns highlighted above. To start with, enriching education is necessary. The teenagers need to receive education coupled with practical applications. For instance, in order to grasp the attention of the teenagers when it comes to the war on drugs, school based programs can begin. This is one of the ways to propagate behavioural changes. Notably, before the war on drugs is shifted to the community level, the target population needs to be prepared psychologically prepared regarding the intention of the program in question as well as the associated tangible and intangible benefits upon its implementation (Baum, 2015).

Ensuring community cohesion is of critical importance. As mentioned earlier, it is difficult to make a community part of the war on drugs whereas the existing concerns have not been cleared in their minds. The leaders need work with the community representatives and collect facts regarding their issues and how best to address them. Understanding the various dynamics of the population could make it easy for the enforcement agencies to join hands with the community to address the issues of drug use, buying and selling as well as the associated drug-related crimes.

As mentioned earlier, one of the ways to achieve this is to define the key elements and features of the community policy in question. The community needs and risks should be taken care of before any decision is made. For instance, if it is the issue of suspicious arrests that has been aggravating them, there is a need to offer assurance that this will not be witnessed again after the community-drug agencies partnership (Graines, 2017). This is the only way to achieve a win-win situation for all stakeholders.

References

Baum, D. (2015). Smoke and mirrors: The war on drugs and the politics of failure. Boston: Back Bay Books.

Benavie, A. (2017). Drugs: America's Holy War. New York: Springer.

Chase, D. (2015). Ending the war on drugs: A solution for America. Bridgehampton, NY: Bridge Works Pub.

Vaiman, S (2017). Common competency: Develop and implement community programs: CHCCD4A. Torrensville Plaza, SA: ARRTS.

Feltes, T. (2018). Community policing: Comparative aspects of community oriented police work. Holzkirchen/Obb.: Felix.

Gaines, L. K. (2017). Community policing: A contemporary perspective. New York: Routledge.

Gootman, J. A. (2014). Community programs to promote youth development. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Miller, L. S. (2017). Community policing: Partnerships for problem solving. S.l.: Cengage Learning.