How Police Brutality Erodes Public Trust and Perpetuates Racial Discrimination

Abstract

Instructors’ Name Introduction Police brutality is an unprecedented truth in American democracy, and it is horrifying, yet it has not received sufficient attention for many decades. The government and its institutions are less concerned with police integrity and misconduct derailing public trust and confidence in policing. The various forms of police brutality include battery, murder, abuse, harassment, mayhem, intimidation, and torture. Statistics show that Americans of all ethnicities, ages, gender and class have been subjected to police brutality (Schwartz, 2020). However, disproportion arises with African Americans who face the adversity of police brutality compared to white Americans. The American police swear to protect its people, but what is evident is a gross misuse of authority intermixed with racial brutality. America's racist police are the biggest problem in the country. George Floyd is among thousands of police killings silently eating the minority. Black men have a 2.5-fold greater lifetime risk of police homicide than white men (2020). This evidence shows police brutality as a tool for discrimination. Unfortunately, there is no definite accountability for police, escalating police brutality as a big problem. Police do anything with their autonomy and escape convictions. Gender is also a determinant factor of police brutality, with LGBTQ, black, and Latino men more susceptible to police brutality. The history of brutal policing dates back to the great migration of African Americans from Southern rural areas to North and West urban areas (Hinton et al., 2021). The white police were unaccustomed to the presence of African Americans in their jurisdictions and tried to resist them by tainting stereotypes. Segregation began in the interest of white safety, and the aftermath was brutal police misuse of African Americans. There is sufficient evidence from studies to suggest that police brutality has strong historical roots in the United States. Growing racial unrest in the 1960s may be traced back to police brutality (Bentley et al., 2018). Protests of police brutality have graced America in the past decades. This discussion will focus on the works of other scholars on (1)reducing police brutality, enhancing police accountability, and reviving the police departments. (2) It also reviews literature on the need for reformation in police departments using viable reforms. (3) It will also reviews literature on the hidden horrific culture of police that is detrimental to Americans. This paper is a literature review and it will coherently focus on police brutality, its adversity, its effect on American society, and the racist police. Literature Review Alang, McAlpine, and Hardeman (2020) conducted a literature review on the relationship between police violence and distrust in healthcare facilities. Their focus was on the relationship between the two (Alang et al., 2020). According to the authors' argument, communities of color have developed a widespread mistrust of institutions in general, and particularly healthcare organizations, as a result of police brutality or systemic racism. This mistrust has enormous repercussions for the physical and mental well-being of the communities in question. The writers start by explaining the historical origins of police brutality, including institutional racial prejudice in the United States, and stressing how these problems have harmed communities of color (Alang et al., 2020)They then go on to discuss how similar concerns have affected other countries. They emphasize that while the Black Lives Matter movement brought these issues to the attention of the public, there is still a substantial amount of work to be done in the interest of tackling them. Secondly, the authors investigate the ways in which a lack of faith in medical institutions is connected to excessive force by law enforcement. They point out that a history of medical experimentation and maltreatment by healthcare practitioners has left many communities of color wary of seeking medical attention. They also point out the ways in which police aggression may aggravate pre-existing health issues, such as by producing stress and trauma in the victims. The authors then discuss how healthcare professionals can address these problems. They contend that healthcare providers must try to establish trust with communities of color and acknowledge the historical heritage of medical maltreatment of such populations. In order to achieve this, they propose a range of tactics, such as community engagement and education, eliminating unconscious biases in the healthcare industry, and supporting laws that advance fairness and justice. Overall, the literature review conducted by Alang, McAlpine, & Hardeman (2020) provides compelling evidence for the need to address issues such as distrust of medical institutions or police violence (Alang et al., 2020). The writers persuasively argue for the necessity of acknowledging past wrongs, making amends for them, and working to promote equity and trust in healthcare. For academics and professionals attempting to comprehend and resolve these intricate, interconnected problems, their review is an invaluable resource. Schwartz discusses American racism and police violence (2020). The May 2020 murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers has worsened police violence, according to the author. Schwartz notes that police violence in communities of color is high and often tied to institutional racism (Schwartz , 2020) . Racism infects the police, courts, and prisons, he says. Police brutality affects people and communities as well. Police aggression may cause physical and psychological trauma and mistrust of law enforcement as well as other organizations. He claims that distrust undermines public safety and social solidarity. Schwartz concludes by emphasizing the need for systemic change to address police brutality and racism in America. He suggests a number of strategies, including investing in community policing, increasing police accountability and transparency, and addressing the root causes of crime and violence through social programs and policies. Ultimately, Schwartz's (2020) analysis draws attention to the persistent issue of racism and police violence in America (Schwartz , 2020) The author offers alternative solutions for resolving these intricate and multidimensional issues while simultaneously providing a succinct assessment of the situation and its effects. The dangerously racist US jail system and how it perpetuates police brutality against black people W. C. Iheme claims that the US racial criminal system is responsible for police brutality. The author claims that police violence against black individuals is rooted in racial injustice in the US legal system. The author also claims that inequality has historically plagued the US.Iheme begins by examining US racial injustice, including enslavement and Jim Crow legislation. He claims that even though these discriminatory measures were prohibited, they nevertheless affect the justice system. He concentrates on criminal justice (Iheme, 2022). According to the author's figures, black people are more likely than white people to also be incarcerated, found guilty, or given harsher sentences for the same offenses. Blacks are considered more dangerous than whites. He believes this proves the justice system's racism. The author then shifts his focus to the problem of police violence, which he considers to be a direct consequence of this pervasive racism across the system. Iheme contends that cops are typically given broad discretion in how much force they may use and that this authority is frequently misused as a result (Iheme, 2022). He cites a number of well-known instances of police brutality against black people as evidence for the problem, such as the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Eric Garner. The author claims that these acts are part of a larger trend of police violence against black people and are not isolated incidents. He or she claims that this pattern has been going on for quite some time. Iheme also looks at how police brutality has affected black communities, and she makes the case that this has resulted in a decline in trust between the law enforcement agencies and the individuals they are supposed to safeguard and help (Iheme, 2022). He says that this lack of confidence makes it even harder for police officers to perform their duties successfully since they are perceived as an invading force rather than guardians of the community. This perception is making it harder for police officers to accomplish their tasks effectively. This, in turn, leads to increased hatred and violence, resulting in a vicious cycle that is difficult to escape. In general, Iheme makes the argument that the system of racial inequality that is firmly rooted in the United States is the root cause of the greater issue of brutality in the United States (Iheme, 2022). He says...