The Myth Of Police Reform - 1518 Words

When it comes to the topic of police reform, many agree that our country is long overdue for it, however, the questions are how exactly do we, as a nation, go about changing one of the most powerful structures to exist in the country. While some believe that reform must come from within the individually flawed police departments, others argue that the entire criminal justice system needs an overhaul. In this Response essay about Ta-Nehisti Coastes’ essay â€Å"The Myth of Police Reform,† Coates is saying, that the criminal-justice system is not working as well as it should. They are putting people, especially African Americans in jail or killing them. Some people have a mental or physical disability or a have a drug or alcohol problem that†¦show more content†¦This exemplifies, Coastes primary argument, that the problem in our criminal justice system is that we often send police who resort to deadly violence instead of sending someone who is more equipped to ha ndle these situations. Coates begins his argument by telling his story â€Å"fear and compliance have their place, but it can’t ever place† (par. 1), which is a strong example of logos. He assures his readers that it is not good to have a police officer respond to a situation with deadly force when someone like a social worker may be better at dealing with it. The huge flaw with our justice system is that, as Coates states, police officers are not social workers, and often social workers, mental health professionals that would seem more equipped to handle these situations like Tony Robinson, Anthony Hill, and Tamir Rice. In his article, Coastes states that many flaws in the way police handle situations, especially when it comes to situations involving minors, those with physical/mental disabilities as well as those that are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Using pathos to appeal it to the reader’s emotions, Coastes states several instances of deadly forces being used by police when not necessary, such as in the cases of Anthony Hill, Tony Roberson, and Tamir Rice. In Hill’s case, he was a mentally ill person that stripped his clothing off and then jumped off his balcony and the police killed him. Roberson was highShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Discretion of the Police831 Words   |  4 Pages In this paper, I will be writing about Police Discretion. I will start by defining Police Discretion then briefly discuss the use of discretion in domestic disturbances, minor misdemeanors, and traffic enforcement. I will also discuss the application of police discretion, the provisions it uses and how it is currently practiced. At the end of these brief descriptions, I will then present the myth that exists in regards to police discretion. 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