United States policing

post has two assignments

Part 1
Policing in the United States has transformed tremendously through the years. What began in many areas as groups of
constables or posses has grown to one of the largest professions in the country comprised of hundreds of separate
organizations. As you read, you will learn that the early forms of “police” consisted of little more than community members
acting together to maintain social order. Yet, over time, the use of community members to regulate social order fell away
and was replaced by more formalized policing system.

Today, police departments are exploring strategies to both reduce crime and improve relations with community members
by incorporating them in the policing process.

This activity is designed to introduce you to a national movement toward community policing and the policy implications
of this type of system.

For this activity, use the following resources:
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) website. US Department of Justice. Retrieved from
https://www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?item=36.
Director’s speech on alternatives to incarceration (2009, December 2). Keynote address at the Annual Conference of the
National Network for Safe Communities. COPS Media Center. Retrieved from
https://www.cops.usdoj.gov/html/COPSMediaCenter/index.html#copsMayVideocast
The COPS program is operated through the US Department of Justice for the purpose of funding Community Oriented
Policing strategies. On this site, you will read about the various ways in which police departments are proactively engaging
the community in crime reduction efforts. In the second resource, listen to Director Melekian’s remarks about the evolution
and importance of community based policing.

Given what you have learned in this module, read on the COPS website, and heard from Director Melekian, explain what
aspects of Community Oriented Policing you would identify as vital in order for this type of policing strategy to succeed.

Consider the following questions when formulating your response:
Do you think certain aspects of communities are relevant to the success of COPS? For example, should different COPS
strategies be chosen based on whether a community is more homogeneous or more diverse? Are different strategies needed
for poor versus affluent communities? Do different strategies work in rural areas compared to urban areas?
In a second paragraph, explain what Director Melekian means by “ values-based policing.” Do you think this type of
policing policy can be successfully implemented? Explain your response and support your position.
Part 2
Some theorists suggest that there is a police culture which can override individual characteristics and encourage officers to
adhere to police code.In this module we examined research that explores what creates this dynamic and how it is
sustained.Additionally, we explored how individual biases can be enhanced or marginalized in this type of subculture. This
activity will give you the opportunity to explore this culture and apply some of the theoretical constructs to a case
scenario.

To prepare for this discussion activity, read the following:
Berg, Bruce L. (1999) “Acquiring a Police Personality” in Policing in Modern Society, pg. 323-325. (This short chapter offers
an examination of Skolnick’s theory of the Police “working personality”)
Fritsch, J. (2000, February 26). The Diallo verdict: The overview; 4 officers in Diallo shooting are acquitted of all charges.The
New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/26/nyregion/diallo-verdict-overview-4-officers-diallo-
shooting-are-acquitted-all-charges.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
For this activity, you will apply Skolnick’s theory of the “working personality” to explain officer actions in the case of
Amadou Diallo. In forming your response, address the following issues:
What aspects of Skolnick’s working personality account for the officers’ suspicion in this case?
What could the officers have done differently in this case? Would it be reasonable to ask them to act differently in light of
the assertions made in Skolnick’s theory?
Should the officers be held criminally liable in this case? Why or why not?

2:‘Pecha Kucha’ presentation (no sound necessary)

1. Choose ONE of the below ten social determinants of health listed below:

i. The social gradient
ii. Stress
iii. Early life
iv. Social exclusion
v. Work
vi. Unemployment
vii. Social support
viii. Addiction
ix. Food
x. Transport

Think about the social determinant of health that you have chosen, in light of two things.

Firstly, consider the social determinant of health in light of your learning since commencing your nursing studies,
including your experiential learning in the clinical and related settings.

Secondly, consider the social determinant of health in light of the resources developed by the following groups of people:
• World Health Organisation at: https://www.who.int/sdhconference/resources/EquitySDandPH_eng.pdf and
https://www.who.int/social_determinants/tools/SD_Publichealth_eng.pdf
• Primary Health Care Research and Information Service, at: https://www.phcris.org.au/guides/social_determinants.php
• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation: https://anmf.org.au/documents/reports/PHC_Australia.pdf

2. Based on your reading and thinking, develop a creative, engaging and audience-appropriate ‘Pecha Kucha’ presentation
(no sound necessary) to educate either your peers OR future nursing colleagues. This presentation should be concise (i.e.
contain pictures, graphs, diagram, multi-media, but less than 500 words).

In this presentation, you are to address the following:

i. The epidemiological data related to this social determinant of health from a national and/or international perspective

ii. The influence of this social determinant on the health of communities

iii. How the application of the values and principles of social justice and equity could bring about sustainable change in
relation to this social determinant of health

iv. The role of government and non-government organisations in addressing this social determinant of health nationally
and/or internationally

v. How health professionals can use clinical evidence based strategies, as individuals and also in multi-disciplinary teams,
to address this social determinant of health and thereby bring about sustainable change in the health of communities

vi. How health professionals can collaborate health promotion and illness prevention strategies to address this social
determinant of health

Policing