Forum letters: Reimagine policing to create real procedural justice

Reimagining policing

“Ban tear gas? Quickly fire violent cops? The changes Sacramento activists demand” (sacbee.com, June 14):

The Bee needs to write about options for reimagining policing.

Black men continue to be murdered by the police, but that does not mean that all police officers are racists. Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff has written extensively on policing equity. He points to “implicit bias” as a critical part of the problem.

The City of Camden, New Jersey, had to remove and replace its police department due to corruption at the highest levels. It is an example of how policing can be reimagined. Defunding the police does not mean removing the police. It means creating a new vision of policing as “procedural justice”.

Respect peoples’ dignity and they will return that respect. Treat people fairly and people will be more likely to comply with an officer’s lawful request. The time is now!

Police funding increases

Submitted June 21, regarding police funding:

The U.S. Population in 1977 was 220.2 million. In 2017, it was 325.1 million. That’s a 48 percent increase.

Police funding in 1977 was $42 billion (in 2017 dollars). In 2017, it was $115 billion. That’s a 173.8 percent increase.

The truth is that for generations, the U.S. has been defunding the social safety net programs that would make police force less necessary. This includes releasing mental patients, reducing welfare, and being miserly with Social Security Disability (you typically have to hire an attorney to navigate a disability application).

Disempowering the police is long overdue.

Enforcing Newsom’s mask order

“Sacramento Sheriff, other capital agencies won’t enforce Newsom’s mask order. Here’s why” (sacbee.com, June 19):

So interesting how Sheriff Scott Jones picks and chooses state laws he wants to enforce. The sheriff claims he wants to educate, not get into altercations or be overwhelmed by people calling in with violations.

And yet the sheriff chooses to enforce removing port-a-potties from the homeless areas along the river. And, if homeless or a person of color, the following are often enforced: loitering, trespassing, riding bikes on sidewalks and shoplifting.

But not wearing a mask? COVID-19 is huge and proven public health risk that includes everyone. And yet the sheriff can’t be bothered. Instead he will “educate.” Would that sentiment apply to drug users, homeless people and your average young Black man walking around? Here the heavy hand of the law seems to have all the time and resources they need.

CSU budget cuts

“Here’s what could be restored to the California budget if the feds send aid” (sacbee.com, June 24):

Slashing $500,000,000 from the California State University system creates a disproportionate impact on low-income students, students from underrepresented minority groups and other disadvantaged students.

CSU is laying off thousands of lecturers, canceling thousands of classes and slashing student jobs on campuses all over the state. CSU has been underfunded for decades. The pandemic itself has caused financial hardship for CSU as they have refunded tuition and housing fees and revenues have fallen off a cliff. State investments in higher education result in profits to the state as educated students earn more money and pay more taxes.

The cuts to the CSU system place an unfair burden on low income and minority students throughout the state when they need more support than ever. Equity demands stable funding for the CSU system.

Getting a second chance

“Initiative to restore voting rights to Californians on parole heads to November ballot” (sacbee.com, June 24):

Society asks parolees to peaceably integrate back into their communities, but denies them the fundamental right to vote. Society asks parolees to be a part of their community, but currently refuses to give them a voice. We continue to look at parolees as convicts instead of people; labeling them by who they were instead of who they could be.

Isn’t America about second chances? If the goal of prison is reform and rehabilitation, shouldn’t we work to fully integrate former inmates back into society? Part of assimilating people back into society should include restoring their voting rights. We should not continue to deny any demographic of that second chance.

School resource officers

“Police have patrolled Sacramento schools for years. Is it time to get cops off campus?” (sacbee.com, June 18):

The concept of using School Resource Officers instead of police to secure schools in Sacramento could be applied to reinvent the police force.

Separate the role of strong law enforcement versus a role to prevent escalation of minor infringements into violence. This takes a strong and firm uniformed law enforcement presence with professionals trained in operating under contentious and sometimes dangerous circumstances to prevent and detect crime, investigate serious crimes and apprehend violent criminals. And it takes a non-uniformed trusted friend and peace keeper to defuse situations and calm tempers, maintain public order and handle less serious infringements and non-violent crimes.

These different roles require different people skills. By matching the role of a person with their demeanor, personality and skills with these role so they can succeed in providing either strong law enforcement or a safe and friendly public space.