Criminology

The question of poor communication between the police and the local community has been closely attributed with failure to realize an effective crime prevention strategy in the community. Effective communication with the local community members is quite crucial in helping the police identify and eliminate crime in the society (Shane, 2007). However, this practice is complicated by the fact that the American population is marked with diversity. In the first section of this paper, an introduction into the subject of policing and diverse populations is given. Section two is a critical discussion on the importance of communication with diverse populations and development of partnerships between the police and the community in the US. This is followed by a section on the various ways of improving police-civilian relationship. The last part of this essay is a conclusion which asserts that the police meet all the needs of the community if they engage in building effective partnerships with the population.

Policing and Diverse Populations
Effective communication is among the most important requirements for the realization of an efficient crime prevention strategy. According to the defining principles of crime prevention, the relationship between the local community and the law enforcement is of crucial consideration. This is because it is the community, which serves as victims of crime activities. This can also be explained by the fact that the local community members have vital information for identifying and reporting crime offenders who reside in their neighborhood (Shame, 2007).

The American society is marked with a diverse population, typically comprised of ethnic minorities, women, and senior citizens as well as persons with disabilities, immigrants, and juveniles. Due to this reasoning policing practices must reflect the diversity both in communication and cooperation with the population. This calls for adequate training of law enforcement officials to enhance their interpersonal relationship building with the society members (Block, 19994).

This essay is written as a discussion on policing and diverse populations. The author takes a look at the importance of communicating with diverse populations and developing partnerships between the police and the community in the US. A discussion on how the law enforcement can meet these diverse requirements of the community as well as the implications of such to crime prevention is also given.
Communication with diverse populations and development of partnerships between the police and the community in the US has various advantages in crime prevention practices by the law enforcement (Block, 1994). The community is one of the most important tools for identifying and mitigating crime activities in the society. This necessitates for the developing of an effective consolidation of efforts between the police and members of the local community. According to a research finding on the effects of communication in a diverse population by the police, it is clearly established that police who build a sustainable relationship with the citizens are highly ranked in terms of performance (Orthmann,  Hess, 2008).

Another important of policing in a diverse population is that it enhances dissemination of information (Orthmann,  Hess, 2008). It is evident in many societies that many citizens are more open giving crime insights to police officers who are either of same race or friends. Still to be appreciated is the fact that citizens prefer to report police misconduct to officers of other races. Based on this reasoning therefore, the policing practices will always dictate for diversity if sustainable justice is to be achieved in the society.

Failed communication between the police and the community can create enmity, thus compromising the possible realization of crime prevention (Orthmann,  Hess, 2008). According to reports on violence against the police, most of the victims have a long history of harassing members of the community. Also, it is quite common to here of violence of white police serving in a black community or the black police serving in a white community. All these are symbolic of failed communication. Indeed, these are a direct result of poor approach by the police in dealing with a diverse population.

Fair and just treatment by the police is a fundamental right for every American citizen (Block, 1994). This is regardless of the physical, mental, and racial background of the individual. Nevertheless, this is usually the case. Such a contradiction is closely attributed to poor communication between the law enforcement and the citizens. Just to be appreciated is the fact that according to available statistics, most incidences of domestic violence go unreported. This is not attributed to lack of knowledge of their rights but negative perception of how the police will react to the reported incidence.

Given the above insights on the importance of enhancing communication, cooperation and partnership between the diverse American population and the police, the author gives some way of realizing this (Block, 1994). Effective police training is one viable practice. Interpersonal relationship building abilities are earned rather than inborn. Based on this reasoning therefore, incorporating public relations in the police training curriculum could sufficiently enhance functioning of the police in diverse populations (Daley,  Rodriguez, 1993).

Another way to promote partnership between police and the community is by implementing a reliable community feedback policy on the conduct and behavior of the police (Daley,  Rodriguez, 1993). Human beings are appreciative of when their grievances are listened and relevant actions taken. In the current system, although citizens have a right to question and report police misconduct, most of such concerns go unresolved. This has been closely associated to the negative mentality citizens have towards the police as they perceive them as being inhuman and above the rule of the law.

Law enforcement officer must strive to define and make understood of their purpose to the community members (Shane, 2007). The sole duty of the police is to identify and mitigate crime activities in a just and fair manner. Therefore, by ensuring that they are fully accepted and appreciated by the local community in their mission, the process of policing could be greatly improved. This is also important in engaging the local in voluntarily providing useful information on crime activities to the police (Shane, 2007).

Creating public awareness is another way police can promote partnership with the diverse community population (Orthmann,  Hess, 2008). It is evidently claimed by many that most members of the community are not aware of their constitutional rights. Due to this reason, many citizens unknowingly fall victims of police misconduct. This is the reason why creating public awareness on the rights of the citizens while dealing with the police could no doubt promote partnership between the community and the police.

Still on awareness, the police force in the United States of America has been brand a poor reputation by the community (Block, 1994). Indeed, it is claimed that even the elite members of the society perceive the police as brutal, a factor that compromise the formation of any sustainable relationship between them. This misconception of the police by members of the community can only be eliminated by creating public awareness (Block, 1994). Such should also entail a message of apology by the police for the many forms for mistreatment they have conducted among some members of the diverse community.

In conclusion, the law enforcement can sufficiently meet the many needs of the diverse population of America. This is because the most common problem between the police and the community occur as a result of failed communication (Shane, 2007). To mitigate this problem, the police department must engage in enhance police public relations. Another viable way of addressing the diverse needs of the American population is implementing public feedback policies on the conduct of police.

Communication, appreciation and cooperation of the community in policing process can only be realized if the public is made aware of the purpose of the police in the community (Orthmann,  Hess, 2008). This will enhance the practice of crime prevention strategies by the law enforcement as well as enhance fairness and justice in the community.