So, I wonder how many of those reading this post have had conversations with their children, teenagers or other young people in their lives about what it means for them to wear a hoodie while walking down the street, or have legitimate fear of having their child killed or harmed by police whenever their youngster leaves the house. If you've never felt compelled to initiate such a conversation, perhaps it is time to set that privilege aside for a moment and let it sink in, how consuming that fear is for those adults that need to have those conversations.
While Connecticut is in a region of the country that experiences a lower percentage of population killed by police, this state is not exempt. In the last 5 years, Connecticut has seen 21 people killed by police. More than half of those killed were non-caucasian. Further, we can consider at least 63 cases of CT police brutality in the last decade.
The Plain View Project is a database that collects public social media posts by law enforcement officers and gives an alarming view of some police officer's respect for law and justice.
The majority of people I know have never visited a prison. Statistics indicate that most of the faces of the prison population would not be white. Perhaps it is time to recognize the privilege to trust that the justice system will work; that when those who look like me are guilty of a minor mistake, mental illness, or addiction, we will not be harshly imprisoned. Does centuries of institutionalized discrimination result in a faithful trust in or visceral fear of "equal justice under the law"?
The recent killings of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks has refueled the societal discussions of abusive police authority. Is policing a tough and dangerous job? YES! Does the U.S, have systemic inequality problems? YES! Has law enforcement become increasingly militarized? YES! Does our for-profit prison systems present incentive for increasing prison populations while decreasing rehabilitation programs and safety programs for those imprisoned? YES! Does the U.S. have the world's largest per capita prison population? YES! If any of these questions give you pause, please further consider that the U.S. ranks 20th in the world in police killing of citizens per capita, and of those top 20 countries, the U.S. is the only country most would consider a mature and modern democracy. The Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013 was passed in 2014, yet last year, the Office of the Inspector General found that many law enforcement agencies have yet to comply with the law. Tasked with implementing the Death in Custody Reporting Act, the Department of Justice has not collected the reports required. Many state agencies have yet to comply with the law. Simply put, the Federal government does not know how many people are killed by law enforcement every year. Is it equal justice when our own justice system can disregard law without consequence?
There are organizations and publications which are collecting data in absence of government reporting. Consistent findings show:
Black Americans are killed by police at higher rates than White Americans.
The highest rates of Police Violence are not in the regions that have the highest crime rates.
99% of Police killings have not resulted in officers being charged with a crime.
There are also organizations collecting data to research policy shortcomings and approaches that improve efficient, humane policing that operates within the framework of democratic principles and the highest ideals of the nation. Significant findings include:
Potential abuse and actual abuse remain both a central problem for police agencies and a central public policy concern.
Police officers are more likely to use physical force against African Americans and other minorities than against whites in similar situations.
Police abuses are a continuing reality as is the "code of silence" that shields those who do abuse their authority.
Most disturbing to many, is how many Black, Hispanic, or Native American victims of police excessive force were not involved in criminal activity at the time the police ended their lives. Too many have died while in custody. Now, many parents of minority children are faced with instructing their children how to safely interact with police, from routine traffic stops to playing in the park, as if their life depended on it... because it does.
"Better get it right the first time" by Rhiannon Giddens Did you stand your ground?
(Young man was a good man)
Is that why they took you down?
(Young man was a good man)
Or did you run that day?
(Young man was a good man)
Baby, they shot you anyway
SOURCES:
The Plain View Project The Marshall Project
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