In the mid-1990s, Congress passed crime legislation that provided for 100,000 additional police officers to be placed on the streets within a five year period (Daniels 1). Since that time, crime is down but complaints of police discrimination and brutality have risen. Well-publicized incidents like the police shooting Amadou Diallo, an unarmed immigrant, 41 times in New York City and controversial policing policies like racial profiling have caused concern and protest from minority communities and those who argue the police are often prejudiced and target minorities for arrest and violence. A wave of police misconduct and corruption that has washed over both coasts of the U.S. in New York and Los Angeles have added to the general perception that the police are insensitive to minority groups at best and single them out specifically for arrest and brutality at worst. A high level of public fear over crime and a tough-on-crime stance by politicians act as reinforcement for law enforcement officers who, as one law enforcement expert contends, must radically change the perspective and manner with which they view and treat minorities “In order for law enforcement to contribute to the solution of the crisis of crime and violence it can no longer be business as usual. In particular, the manner in which the police conduct themselves in the Black community, poor communities and communities of color must radically change. Racist attitudes are often prevalent among police officers leading to widespread abuse of power in terms of police harassment and brutality” (Daniels 1).
After numerous incidents of police brutality and violence against minorities, like the case of Abner Louima who was sodomized with a broom handle while in police custody, many police departments have taken pause to reconsider their policies when it comes to everything from recruitment and training to methods of operation on the street. Due to outrage and protest...