Q: Why do we have police?
A: Important duties, difficult mandates to maintain.
Q: What events of the early 2020 changed police roles?
A: Several key events, changing police roles
Covid-19 pandemic
Murder of George Floyd; corresponding demonstrations
Q: What is de-policing?
A: Withdraw from active police work
Q: What behaviors are associated with de-policing?
A: Avoid interactions with citizens
Less engagement in proactive measures
Q: How did COVID-19 affect jail and court procedures?
A: Jails released many people incarcerated for less serious offenses.
Pretrials occurred predominantly via video conferencing.
Q: How did COVID-19 affect officers’ workload and communication?
A: Officers’ workload increased with staff shortages.
Masks limited communication abilities.
Q: How did COVID-19 affect police training?
A: Training was delivered more on-line and in small groups
Q: What does defunding the police mean?
A: Reduce police funding and provide more social services.
Q: Why are calls for service difficult to transfer?
A: Calls for service not easily transferrable.
Q: What was the effect of increased funding?
A: actually boosted quality and training
Q: How much did the murder rate increase from 2019 to 2020?
A: From ’19 – ’20 Nearly 30% rise in murder rate.
Q: What are possible reasons for the homicide crime wave?
A: The increased stress on citizens caused by the pandemic.
Many extracurricular programs were closed due to COVID.
Arrestees not detained in jails, thereby allowing them to be free to reoffend.
The public’s taking justice into their own hands.
The police limited their contacts with citizens, due to COVID-19 and their concern about the implications of possibly having to use force.
Q: What debate emerged after the homicide crime wave?
A: New debates over police existence.
Q: What is a basic responsibility of police?
A: Identify, apprehend people
Q: What does it mean that police are gate keepers?
A: Determine who enters criminal justice system
Q: How do police give meaning to law?
A: Ensure penalty for violations
Q: How do police implement the law?
A: Implement some with more frequency
Do not pay equal attention to all crimes
Q: Why is law enforcement controversial?
A: Police take sides on right/wrong
Controversy, even with increased transparency
Q: How much time do police spend enforcing the law?
A: Relatively little time
Q: What are the most common police calls?
A: Most common calls, traffic-related
Disorders, suspicions, follow-ups/services, property crimes.
Q: What must police do to control crime?
A: Must pay attention to everyone’s behavior.
Q: What is a pretext traffic stop?
A: Police pull over a driver for a minor traffic violation as an excuse to investigate a more serious crime they suspect the driver of committing.
Q: What does a pretext stop allow?
A: Allow other law enforcement action.
Q: Why is crime control difficult?
A: Presence, absence not to do with police
Police lack control over conditions of crime
