The Policies, Politics and Practices of 21st Century Policing in Combating Gangs, Guns and Drugs

This mini-course meets October 9, October 16 and October 23

The landscaping of policing in 21st Century America has changed dramatically over the past few decades. The increasing sophistication of gangs, the easy access to illegal guns and the development of big business narcotics all have converged to change the way police must address crime. As gangs expand their narcotics empires to include complex crimes such as mortgage fraud, and as gangs gain influence through legitimate political avenues, traditional street policing is no longer effective in combating gangs, guns and drugs. Police must now rely upon intelligence-based policing, combined with cutting-edge technology, to prevent and solve violent crimes. The ways in which we choose to prevent and solve violent crimes, however, have both intended and unintended policy implications, often shrouded in political issues as well. This seminar will examine the policy implications, intended and unintended, of modern law enforcement strategies to combat gangs, guns and drugs, specifically how those strategies affect the particular communities in which they are implemented. This seminar will address how police resources and police strategies impact, and reconcile with, the civil rights that we consider a fundamental characteristic of American society. We will discuss the balance between a free society and a safe society, what the tradeoffs might be, and at what point are we willing to sacrifice some of one for some of the other. The first two sessions will explore two of the most compelling issues facing urban policing today: drugs and guns. Both issues are inextricably intertwined with gangs, and there will be overlap between the first two sessions. The third session will address the policy implications that certain modern tools of law enforcement have on a free and safe society.