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The Ethics of Policing

Book Review: The Ethics of Policing: New Perspectives on Law Enforcement

NYU Press, 2021

by Ben Jones & Eduardo Mendieta

reply to Yolanda

Introduction

“Ethics of Policing” by Ben Jones & Eduardo Mendieta (2021) talks about ethical and social issues that come up in contemporary policing. The book is quite lengthy, as there are more than 300 pages, and the chapters are written by various scholars, who dwell upon various ethical problems. The book was pretty easy to read; however, some of the concepts really stop and make you think. The reason is that the authors do not simply define the police duties but rather discuss their relation to society, democracy, and the trust of people. Rather than solely focusing on the personal choices, the book breaks down the larger systems that affect the choices made by the officers, including the statutes and institutions along with the needs of the community. In this review, I will bring out the important aspects of the book and how they stand to be still applicable in the contemporary discussions regarding policing.

Critical Analysis

The variety of views that the book presents is one of its important strengths. The book appears to be a discussion rather than one lengthy lecture because multiple researchers took part. Each of the chapters touches upon different issues in the field of policing, such as the moral responsibility of the officers and the role of the law enforcers in the democracy. Despite the fact that I was able read some chapters more easily than others, diversity made the book interesting and kept me engaged.

Among the concepts of the greatest importance in the book, there is the reality of policing being not only a technical profession but also a moral profession. The officers have to make decisions regularly, which are likely to affect the rights, safety, and dignity of the people. According to the authors, there is a need for clear ethical guidelines and accountability, which seems to be especially important in the face of all the current discussions about policing.

The other concept as explained in the book is the connection that exists between policing and democracy. It focuses on transparency, equality, and openness to the population. They expound that when distrust arises or when some groups feel like they are targeted unfairly, then there is a likelihood that the whole system will start to collapse. This correlation between the daily police routine and the greater democratic ideals makes the discussion more meaningful.

Racial inequality is another issue discussed in the book. Despite this not being the main theme, the authors reveal how past discrimination is still affecting policing today. To them, such inequalities cannot be ignored in ethical policing. It appears that these sections are especially necessary in today’s society, when the issue of race and justice is still debated.

The prose is at times very scholarly, and chapters occasionally need an additional push to read. However, the authors prove to be very successful in their attempts to connect the ethical theory to the real-life examples. The book does not strive to make complicated issues easier to understand. It shows that ethics in policing is interconnected with history, politics, and community relations, and that positive changes are impossible in the short term.

The book gives a general overview of the ethical aspects of policing and is slightly more serious compared to the other light reading books, but it is an enlightening book for the reader who is interested in learning more about the profession of law enforcement.

Conclusion

Ethics of Policing: New Perspectives on Law Enforcement gives a persuasive critique of the ethical concerns in modern policing. The book has shown, through different voices, the fact that ethical values, trust of the people and democratic values are also affecting the work of the police. Among the strongest aspects of the book is the demonstration that ethical decisions are not made individually by officers but are shaped by systems, history, and community expectations.

Some of these chapters are very thick and the central ideas are quite relevant in the contemporary world, especially with the ongoing debates about coping in society. Generally, I would recommend the book to everyone keen to know more about the finer aspects of ethics in law enforcement and why ethical policing should be mindful and long-term.

References

Jones, B., & Mendieta, E. (2021). The ethics of policing: New perspectives on law enforcement. NYU Press