Cultural & Social Awareness Seminar-MADS 6751

Law enforcement is a system by which some members of the society enforce the law by identifying and punishing those who break the law. Law enforcement encompasses police, courts, and polices; however, the term is most often used to refer to the police because of their role of investigating crimes and
apprehending criminals. Government agencies are responsible for the enforcement of the law. Law enforcement agencies in the United States include the police department, the sheriffs department, and investigative police services, which are commonly referred to as bureaus. New Jersey is increasingly becoming a pluralistic state, which is mushrooming into a rich diversity of races and cultures. The current population demographics and statistics for New Jersey by race indicate a diverse population. Whites are the majority at 68.58%, followed by the Hispanics at 17.69%, the Blacks at 13.70%, Asian at 8.25%, and the natives at 0.36%. Diversity begins with it many advantages; however, the government institutions must develop appropriate way to interact with and manage this diversity. Law enforcement must continuously adapt to continue serving the society in a changing environment.
Cultural and Social Awareness in Law Enforcement
The increasing diversity in the community is changing the concerns of criminal justice and law enforcement. It also demands a change in the nature of some crimes and the tactics of the police. Law enforcement officers lacking the cultural and national background of citizens, experience baffling incidents, and surprising reactions to their tactics. Officers who understand the social practices and cultural traditions of immigrants country of origin are in a better position because he or she can predict some of the reactions and difficulties the new immigrants face in the American society. Regardless of the cultural backgrounds, some customs are unacceptable in the country (Baskir, 2009). However, regardless of the crime, the immigrants must be treated with respect and patience. The police officers must understand the innocent mindset the immigrant carried out the crime.
Some cultural practices are illegal in the country but acceptable in some cultures. Female circumcision is illegal in the United States; however, some communities in Africa consider it a rite of passage. The Lao who live on the mountain slopes of Southeast Asia have a traditional practice considered an acceptable form of eloping. Their tradition allows men to capture and takeaway women for marriage. This is done regardless of the womans stand on the issue, and the man is expected to consummate the union. In the United States, this translates to kidnapping and rape. Cultural and social awareness does not encourage the law enforcement agencies to let perpetrators of crimes get away because they belong to a certain community, it encourage the officers to handle suspects considering his own mindset (Ibe, Ochie & Obiyan, 2012). Only one set of laws govern the country; however, cultural awareness enables the police to understand crimes without their own cultural blinders.
Any action that amounts to a crime in the country must be punished; however, the police will benefit from understanding the cultural dimension of the crime. The police have the allowance to treat a suspect, witness, or victim differently depending on what is normal in that persons culture. Police who understand that cultural background is a factor in a certain crime may earn the respect of the community by revising the crime in the context of the offenders customs. Members of this ethnic community are more likely to cooperate with police officer who demonstrates an understanding of way they do the things they do. Discretion of the police not to arrest committers of certain lesser crimes because of cultural influence may be appropriate. An understanding of the cultural background enables the police to perceive the crime slightly different (Baskir, 2009).
There are many members of different communities and religions in the country. One religion in the country is the Sikh religion, which has it origin in northern India. Members of this religion carry ceremonial dagger at all time even in their sleep. Carrying a dagger in the country amounts to being in possession of a weapon; however, to the members of the Sikh religion, it is a sacred symbol just like the cross is to the Christians. The pacific islanders have a tradition of roasting whole pigs. In the crowded urban centers, some still uphold their traditions and will often barbecue a whole pig in their backyard. This activity is bound to interfere with the neighbors and amounts to a crime; however, to them it is a tradition. Vietnamese eat dogs whereas the Americans keep dogs as pets. Culture has a tremendous influence on the behavior of an individual. Police who understand the culture norms of the communities living in an area they maintain law and order enhance the good police-community relationship (Laycock, 2004).
Culture includes a set of values and a pattern of thinking that is largely unconscious. It is passed from one generation to the other and is inherited. Children as young as five years have a cultural orientation. Most people believe that what they take for granted is taken for granted by everyone. Most people are blind to their own profoundly entrenched cultural conduct. The law enforcement officers therefore have a tendency to interpret actions based on their own cultural point of view. This is largely because of the inability to interpret action from alternative perspectives and the inclination toward ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism is a barrier that leads to the inability to perceive another set of values that leads to culturally different behaviors. This leads one to attribute a wrong meaning or motive to a given act. Some cultural misunderstanding may lead to tragic outcomes, e.g., the Asian people believe in traditional healing practices that leave marks on the skin. Most of the Americans would interpret this as physical abuse (Baskir, 2009). Vietnamese use hot coins to heal the skin by rubbing them on their skin. Interpreting marks on an individual using ones cultural filters, which are based on the belief system will result in concluding child abuse, especially if the markings are on a child. The intention of the act is almost directly opposite to what one may perceive using the cultural filters.
Prejudice is an opinion formed before facts are evident, usually involving negative thoughts about a group of people. Discrimination is action based on prejudiced thoughts. Because prejudice is often a thought, it is private and difficult to control; however, discrimination is illegal and punishable by law. Prejudice exist in any given society, therefore all law enforcement agencies face the problem of prejudice because the officer are drawn from the communities. The private nature of prejudice makes it difficult for the individual expressing prejudice to identify when his or her judgments are based on prejudice. In the late 1990s and the early 2000s, allegations of racial profiling were very common on the New Jersey state highways. Racial profiling is the use of an individual ethnicity by a law enforcement officer when deciding whether to engage that person, usually common when making a traffic stop (Laycock, 2004).
The WWOR-TV Channel 9 aired a special report titled Without Just Cause that highlighted the problem of racial profiling in New Jersey in 1989. The investigative journalists interviewed people and surveyed tickets from the New Jersey Turnpike. The finding revealed that a disproportionate number of people ticketed were those of color. The investigative journalist also interviewed state troopers who admitted that race was a factor in deciding who to stop. Blacks comprised 13.5% of the drivers in the region; however, they constitute 15% of the drivers ticketed. Blacks also constituted 35% of the people stopped by the police. On 23rd April 1998, two troopers from the New Jersey State Police opened fire on a van carrying four Black males. Three of the occupants of the van were injured during the incident (Baskir, 2009). The official police report indicated that the police officers stopped the van because of over speeding as the police radar had shown. Later on, it was discovered that the particular vehicle the police were using did not have a radar unit. The two police officers involved in the shootout were charged with attempted murder. The New Jersey State Police superintendent in an interview with Star-Ledger made public his prejudice toward minority groups within his jurisdiction. He explained that the minority groups are the more likely culprits of drug trafficking within the state. The governor Whiteman fired him the same day.
Stereotyping encourages prejudice. Police prejudice received increased media attention from the 1990s and continues to receive media attention whenever it happens. The issue of police prejudice is such an important issue in the country that it forms part of the election pledges. Prejudice left unchecked can damage the police-community relation and leads to personal tragedy. Training is successful in changing the police behavior and to some extent attitude. Change in the police force takes effect only if it comes from the top authorities. Officers listen to the senior officers in the agencies even if think otherwise. This leads to change in behavior even if their personal biases remain. The officer is free to think what he or she wills; however, acting upon prejudices is the mandate of the department (Ibe, Ochie & Obiyan, 2012).
Studies within the police force indicate that peer behavior encourages acts of racial bias. When one member within a group makes ethnic slurs, the other members within the group are more likely to express the same hostility toward members of the minority communities more freely. The law enforcement leaders understand this and are very clear on the expression of racial prejudice. The authorities are currently more vocal about the issue of prejudice, especially in the law enforcement institutions. Whenever one officer makes a mistake, the entire police department pays the price often through bad publicity and lawsuits. One of the ways the police is overcoming the cultural barrier is through community policing. Community policing brings the police and the different groups of people the police meet while performing their duties (Baskir, 2009).
Community policing opens up dialogue between the police department and the various communities within its jurisdiction. This enables the police to identify what is working and what requires improvements. This encourages creative ways of dealing with crime and peacekeeping at the community level. The initiative also dubbed the problem-solving approach allows for change of image of the traditional police officer. The community policing initiative aims to move the police closer to the community. The front store office is a community-policing concept where the police work in an office at a school, apartment, or business complex. The police are readily available to the community and frequently interact with the people. Seeing the police on a frequent basis is changing the perception of the people toward the police. The basic approach of community policing toward communities is encouraging an open dialogue between the police and the diverse community. The community identifies their policing concerns and the police respond to them. The police only assist the community in policing and protecting themselves; however, within the framework of the law (Ibe, Ochie & Obiyan, 2012).
Conclusion
Significant changes in the ethnic and racial makeup of the population in New Jersey creates immediate challenges for the police. To carry out their mandate effectively, the police must understand the cultural information about the communities they serve. The police officers must evaluate constantly their words and actions dependent on the cultural background of the people they are dealing with. Community policing creates an opportunity for the police to understand the community and for the community to cooperate with the police to ensure their safety. This approach is already baring fruits as most communities are experiencing decreased crime rate and increased trust between the police and citizens from different backgrounds. The United States was founded upon the basis of equality and freedom for all. Without the rich mix of races, religion, and culture, the country would not be what it is today. The police department recognizes this and endeavors to serve all Americans irrespective of their religion, race, or culture.
 References
Baskir, C. E. (2009). Fostering cultural competence in justice system "gatekeepers". Judicature, 92(5), 232-237.
Ibe, P., PhD., Ochie, C., PhD., & Obiyan, E., PhD. (2012). Racial Misuse of "Criminal Profiling" By Law Enforcement: Intentions and Implications. African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies : AJCJS, 6(1), 177-196.
Laycock, G. (2004). New challenges for law enforcement. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 10(1), 39-53.