Policing Is About People: An Interview with Martin Schwartz

Policing Is About People

by Martin J. Schwartz

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	429 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	168 pages
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE

Martin Schwartz is a former police officer and current professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of the book Policing Is About People, which argues that the key to effective policing is building trust between police and the communities they serve.

In this interview, Schwartz discusses the importance of community policing, the challenges of building trust between police and the communities they serve, and the need for reform in the criminal justice system.

The Importance of Community Policing

Community policing is a philosophy of policing that emphasizes building partnerships between police officers and the communities they serve. Schwartz believes that community policing is essential for effective policing because it allows police officers to get to know the people they serve and to understand their needs.

"When police officers are seen as members of the community, they are more likely to be trusted and respected," Schwartz said. "This trust and respect is essential for effective policing because it allows police officers to build relationships with the people they serve and to work with them to solve problems."

The Challenges of Building Trust

Building trust between police and the communities they serve is not always easy. There are a number of factors that can make it difficult, including:

• History of police brutality and misconduct: The history of police brutality and misconduct in the United States has made many people distrustful of police officers.
• Racial profiling: Racial profiling is a form of discrimination that occurs when police officers stop, question, or search people based on their race or ethnicity. Racial profiling is a major problem in the United States, and it has eroded trust between police and communities of color.
• Lack of communication: A lack of communication between police officers and the communities they serve can also make it difficult to build trust. This can happen when police officers do not make an effort to get to know the people they serve or when they do not listen to their concerns.

Despite these challenges, Schwartz believes that it is possible to build trust between police and the communities they serve. He argues that the key is for police officers to be visible, approachable, and accountable to the community.

The Need for Reform

Schwartz believes that the criminal justice system in the United States is in need of reform. He argues that the system is too focused on punishment and not enough on rehabilitation. This focus on punishment has led to mass incarceration, which has had a devastating impact on communities of color.

"We need to rethink our approach to crime and punishment," Schwartz said. "We need to focus on prevention and rehabilitation instead of punishment. We also need to address the root causes of crime, such as poverty and inequality."

Martin Schwartz is a passionate advocate for community policing and reform of the criminal justice system. He believes that the key to effective policing is building trust between police and the communities they serve. He also believes that the criminal justice system needs to be reformed to focus on prevention and rehabilitation instead of punishment.

Schwartz's work is important because it challenges the traditional view of policing and offers a new way of thinking about how to keep our communities safe.

Policing Is About People

by Martin J. Schwartz

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	429 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	168 pages
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE