Policing Reflection Paper

The readings presented unique practicalities behind policing. I have learned that future forecasting is necessary to understand different trends so we can predict how it will impact future crime rates. I liked how the reading broke down different factors that might contribute to the increase in crimes. Addressing the futures wheel, it looked at past crime rates from 1984 to 1994 where the increase in crime rates resulted from gangs, drug trade and the necessity to use firearms in order to protect their possession of drugs.

I wasn’t aware that the age group from 14-24 were a crime-prone group. The Age-Crime Nexus emphasized that demographics of adolescents and young adults can contribute to the increase in violent crimes. In the reading it

had stated that young African-American males had a disproportionate offending rates compared to that of the U.S. population. While, this may be true, I wasn’t keen that they hadn’t addressed the racism that had plagued America the century before. The reading had mentioned that crime rose in the years from 1984 to 1994 but I felt that another factor to the increase in crimes rates especially among young African-American males may be the rebellion against ongoing racism even after the enactment of civil rights of 1964.
In addition, Fox had mentioned the term “all things being equal” which simply extended the current trends into the future (114). I believe that it is not a great way to forecast the future because things can change. The change in economy, education, and technology can impact the increase or decrease in crime rates. Besides the change in demographics, it is important to note other factors such as the effect of economy on crime rates.
I learned that in a stagnant economy it discourages and promotes crimes, while in a thriving economy it reduces crimes. Even with the expansion of economy it is important to have quality of jobs is as the availability of jobs. Job availability is vital but without standard minimum wage people are more prone to act out violently because people are unable to support themselves. So, the quality and the wage of the job is important motivator for people to be ‘civilized’. When the unemployment rates increase there is also an increase in crime rates because people are unsatisfied with the economy.
Also, I think that training and education is vital to enforce community oriented policing. The zero tolerance policing was proactive in its outlook where it focused on the causes of a crime. The broken window phenomenon by James Q. Wilson reiterated this idea of focusing on the prevention of crimes before it occurred as well as enforcing the law.
I think that it is great that we have organizations such as Campus Conduct because it protects students and covers areas that affect the surrounding community of UC Santa Cruz. The college campus is more safe having this program where people can turn to for help. It covers topics such as stalking, sale of drugs, hazing and so forth. The services extend to due process and certain sanctions but also it provides counseling and other programs where people can receive help. I think that this creates a safe community, where the people can seek assistance and feel close to one another.