This is a research paper

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Rough Defund the Police

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Baptist health science university

English composition II

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The defund the police movement is a controversial topic in the fight for racial justice in Western countries, as it seeks to redirect public funds from police departments to social services that can provide more effective solutions to crime and public safety issues.

The defund the police movement has sparked fierce debates and gained considerable attention in Western countries, especially the United States. This movement has been primarily motivated by the numerous cases of police brutality, racial profiling, and unequal treatment of minority communities by law enforcement agencies (Cobbina-Dungy & Jones-Brown, 2023). Those who support the movement argue it will lead to better public safety, improved police accountability, racial justice, and equality. Proponents of the movement propose defunding the police by reducing their budgets and shifting toward more holistic and restorative approaches to public safety. They argue that this would reduce the number of police-related deaths. On the other hand, those who oppose the movement fear defunding the police could disrupt public safety and order. For example, opponents believe that defunding the police would lead to an increase in crime and make communities less safe. This paper will examine the arguments for and against the defund the police movement, focusing on the issues of police brutality, public safety, and alternative public safety models.

First, those who favor defunding the police argue it would reduce police brutality. Police brutality is a pervasive and ongoing problem in the United States. Police brutality involves police officers using excessive force on citizens, particularly those of color, which often results in deadly consequences. In recent years, there have been numerous high-profile cases of police brutality in the United States, such as the killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor (Wu et al., 2023). This can be attributed to the increased militarization of police departments across the United States, which involves equipping police forces with heavy weapons and gear usually reserved for the battlefield. The presence of heavily-armed police officers intimidates the communities they serve and encourages excessive force and violence. Proponents suggest that defunding the police could help to reduce police brutality by shifting resources used for militarization away from traditional policing and towards other community-based solutions. This is because the resource constraints would force police departments to focus on serious offenses, away from minor infractions and limit the enforcement of oppressive practices.

Furthermore, proponents suggest that reducing police budgets will result in more accountability and oversight over police departments, as they would be required to operate within a limited budget. The problem of police brutality is compounded by a lack of accountability, as police who abuse their powers are rarely held responsible for their actions (Smith Lee & Robinson, 2019). In addition, police departments are often opaque about their policies and practices. This lack of transparency leads to abuse of power and accountability, as the public cannot hold police accountable for their actions. Thus, those who support defunding the police movement suggest that reducing police budgets could make police departments adopt efficient strategies such as better training, improved recruitment practices, and a greater emphasis on de-escalation tactics to avoid misusing the limited available resources.

Second, proponents of the defund the police movement argue that it could help address racial bias and institutionalized racism in the police and criminal justice departments in the United States (Ghezzi & Houmanfar, 2021). Racial bias in policing is a well-documented and ongoing phenomenon in the United States. Studies have found that police use force disproportionately against people of color and are far more likely to stop, search, and arrest people of color than white people (Smith & Petrocelli, 2001, Hinton et al., 2018). Racial bias is unfair and contributes to the cycle of violence and mistrust between police and the communities they serve. In addition, the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and people of color are disproportionately represented in the prison population (Thompson, 2019). This is partly due to the current policing policies and practices that unfairly target people of color. Defunding the police could help to reduce this bias by shifting resources away from traditional punishment-oriented policing towards community-based solutions such as rehabilitation.

Third, proponents of defunding the police argue that reducing police budgets would allow for a shift toward more holistic approaches to public safety (Towns & Ricciardelli, 2023). They suggest that the excess police budget can be allocated to communities to invest in preventive measures that address the root causes of crime and violence instead of relying solely on the police to respond to calls for help. For example, police are often called upon to deal with mental health situations, yet they are not always adequately trained for such scenarios. This can lead to dangerous situations, as police are not equipped to deal with people experiencing mental health crises (Suwarno, 2021). Therefore, those who support the movement propose reducing police budgets and using the resources to fund social services such as mental health care, drug and alcohol treatment programs, job training, and education. They also suggest providing resources for social workers and community-based organizations to intervene in situations before they escalate and support at-risk individuals.

The main argument against the defund the police movement is that it would lead to an increase in crime and make communities less safe. Opponents argue that there is an undeniable need for police officers to protect public safety. The presence of police officers in a community is an essential part of maintaining order and providing a sense of security. This is especially true in high-crime areas, where police officers are often the only ones who can respond to emergencies and deter criminal activity. Opponents of this movement argue that without the presence of well-equipped police officers in the streets, criminals would feel emboldened to commit more crimes as there would be no one to respond to citizens' calls for help. Furthermore, they believe that a decrease in police funding would reduce the number of officers available to respond to calls for service, resulting in slower response times in emergencies and less efficient policing. Thus, opponents of the movement suggest that reducing police budgets would hinder the ability of police departments to effectively fulfil their duties and ensure the safety of citizens' safety.

Second, opponents of the movement argue that the suggested alternative policing models are untested, ineffective and unable to adequately address the needs of communities. They believe that police departments are necessary to respond to police-related cases and emergencies. Opponents argue that social workers and community-based organizations would not be sufficiently trained or equipped to respond to such situations due to the dangers involved in police-related cases. They suggest that defunding the police and adopting these models could increase crime and violence in communities. There is a strong correlation between police presence and decreases in crime rates (Weisburd, 2021). Studies have shown that when police departments are underfunded, they are less likely to respond to calls quickly (Stogner et al., 2020), which can encourage criminal activity. In addition, they point out that defunding the police would strip police departments of resources and personnel needed to conduct proactive policing and address underlying issues in the community, such as poverty, mental health, and gang activities. Furthermore, they point out that the alternative public safety models would be too costly and require a significant investment of resources that could be better spent elsewhere.

Finally, opponents argue that defunding the police will not adequately address the underlying issues behind systemic racism and police brutality in the United States. They acknowledge the need for better policing practices and direct more resources to community-based solutions but warn that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. They suggest a comprehensive approach that includes police reform, increased accountability and greater transparency to effectively address and prevent police brutality without reducing policing budget.

The defunding police movement has gained traction recently, sparked by other grassroots efforts to challenge racism and police brutality, such as the Black Lives Matter movement. The movement has sparked a nationwide debate over the role of law enforcement in American society and the need for alternative approaches to public safety (Phelps et al., 2021). Proponents of the movement cite the excessive use of force, racial profiling, and discriminatory policing practices as reasons to reduce police funding and divert resources to preventive programs and services, such as mental health and social services. They argue that this would provide more resources for measures and greater accountability and oversight over police departments. On the other hand, opponents believe that such a move would lead to an increase in crime and make communities less safe. While there is a clear need for reform, the reality is that defunding the police is not a viable solution to the systemic problems plaguing the criminal justice system. Therefore, the decision to defund or reduce police budgets must be made on a case-by-case basis, considering each community's needs and resources.

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