Community Policing



Community Policing

Introduction

The Hispanic community is rapidly growing and will soon become the largest racial or ethnic minority group in the country. There is substantial evidence of police-community relations problems between the Hispanic community and the police. These problems arise from issues involving language, cultural heritage, immigration status, and poverty. Surveys of public attitudes about the police consistently show that Hispanic Americans have less favorable views than white Anglo Americans (although not as negative as those of African Americans).

A report by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) states that AThere is a strong perception in the Hispanic Community that Hispanics are frequently subjected to illegal arrests, arrests on weak suspicion, illegal detention and corporal handling by the police.

At its September, 2002 convention, the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association sent a letter to President George W. Bush protesting Ainstitutional racism and rampant discriminatory practices continually directed against Hispanic Americans by federal law enforcement agencies

Between 1990 and 1998, the Hispanic population in the United States grew by an estimated 35 percent and the Asian population grew by 41 percent. Currently, the U.S. population is approximately 12 percent Hispanic and 4 percent Asian. These groups—younger and with larger families—are projected to account for more than half of the Nation's population growth over the next 50 years. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2050, the U.S. population will be 25 percent Hispanic and 8 percent Asian; non-Hispanic whites will constitute a bare majority, at 52 percent.

Language barriers can create special problems. Most American police officers speak only English and cannot communicate effectively with Hispanic community members who either do not speak English at all or have limited English skills.

On August 11, 2000 President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 13166, Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency. The order requires federal agencies providing federal financial assistance to offer guidance on how recipients can ensure compliance with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This includes guidance on assessing the need for ensuring access to services and on how to provide oral or written guidance. Many law enforcement agencies may not be in compliance with this regulation.

Cultural differences can also create additional problems. Many recent immigrants to the United States, for example, are not familiar with the American legal system or standard police procedures. A report by Building Blocks for Youth, Donde Esta la Justicia? called for all criminal justice agencies to have bilingual services and culturally competent staff to deal with Hispanic and Latina youth.

Hypothesis

Hispanics' views of police service improved somewhat by many measures, but about half the Hispanic population were still dissatisfied.

Analysis

In some cities, well-known problems between the police and the Hispanic community have not been addressed. In 1991 there was a civil disturbance in the Mt. Pleasant area of Washington, DC, a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. Eleven years later, a report by the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs found that allegations of misconduct by Washington, DC police Acontinue to be legion

Hispanic/Hispanic ...