After a hurricane
impacts a community, a common practice is not just to rebuild the homes
and businesses, but to build them back stronger to withstand greater
winds and higher flood waters. This same concept is emerging in law
enforcement. Growing social and political pressures have threatened the
traditional law enforcement establishment. However, these pressures have
led to agencies finding new ways to build back stronger and fortify their
relationships within and between communities.
Today’s law
enforcement is faced with challenges in four key areas: public consent,
rule of law, restrained use of force, and independence from political
influence. Adding to these challenges is the global exposure of local
events through social media and news outlets. For example, a tragic death
in one city can spark protests and demonstrations in other cities around
the world. This widespread outcry has spurred calls for police reform
across numerous jurisdictions.
Years of staffing and
retention challenges were a sign of a growing problem, but sometimes it
takes a crisis for true change to begin. In 2020, the compilation of law
enforcement challenges and incidents, social and political unrest, and
even a pandemic pushed talks of police reform to the forefront. Amid the
crises, opportunities and strategies to reconnect law enforcement with
the communities they serve have emerged – with accountability and
transparency leading the discussion.
Combining public
pressure with a new presidential administration, police reform efforts
are likely to continue building momentum in the upcoming year at the
local, state, and national levels. This publication of “The New Age of
Police Reform” provides an overview of how law enforcement agencies are addressing
modern challenges and domestic preparedness concerns, determining
training needs, and rebuilding trust.
Although changing
the inside culture and external perception of a long-standing institution
is a difficult task, significant change is on the horizon. This special
edition of the DomPrep
Journal highlights a series of articles and podcasts that
describe what law enforcement agencies are doing or plan to do to help
rebuild community trust, ensure accountability and oversight, and promote
intergovernmental cohesion.
Sincerely,
Catherine L. Feinman
Editor-in-Chief
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