Description
Book SynopsisThe death of Michael Brown at the hands of a white Ferguson police officer has uncovered an apparent legitimacy crisis at the heart of American policing. Some have claimed that de-policing may have led officers to become less proactive. How exactly has the policing of gangs and violence changed in the post-Ferguson era? This book explores this question, drawing on participant observation field notes and in-depth interviews with officers, offenders, practitioners, and community members in a Southern American state. As demands for police reform have once again come into focus following George Floyd’s death, this crucial book informs future policing practice to promote effective crime prevention and gain public trust.
Table of ContentsForeword by Scott H. Decker PART I: Introduction Policing, Communities, and the “Legitimacy Crisis”: Context and Empirical Approaches PART II: Police–Community Relations in a New Era of Accountability and Change High-Profile Shootings, the Media, and Police Legitimacy The “Ferguson Effect” and Emergence of “De-policing” Proactive Policing of Gangs: Cops as “Guardians” Reactive Policing of Gangs: Cops as “Warriors” PART III: Practitioner and Youth Insights on Police–Community Relations Police as “Guardians” and “Warriors”: Non-Law Enforcement Insights The Post-Ferguson Era: The Lived Experiences of Young Men in Racial Minority Communities PART IV: Conclusion Future Perspectives on Police–Community Relations
