Essay

To this point in the semester, we have focused our attention to community policing and its strategies, tactics, organizational challenges, and effects on crime. The last module of this course explores the issues of defunding the police and abolition in the context of contemporary policing. Vitale argues the police are ineffective at addressing several issues and society would be better off committing resources to other entities to address these issues. The question at hand is whether these arguments are true?

In this essay you are going to put your knowledge to use and argue whether community policing effectively addresses four topics from Vitale’s book. These topics correspond to the chapters in his book and include use of force; school policing; mental illness; homelessness; sex work; drugs; gangs; immigration; and politics. You are free to choose a specific issue within a topic; however, you are only allowed one issue per chapter. For each of the topics, you must answer the question, is community policing is effective in addressing _____________ (e.g. drugs)? For each topic, your response should address the following:

If you answer yes, explain why community policing is effective over other approaches, describe what an effective community policing model looks like for addressing that topic, explain why the approach works, and show evidence that it works. Your evidence can include specific real-world examples and/or empirical evidence supporting its effectiveness.
For instance, if your topic is homelessness you will explain why community policing effectively deals with the issue, describe an effective police-led homeless initiative and why it works, and support your arguments with research evidence.
If you answer no, explain why community policing is not effective and what an alternative model looks like for addressing that topic, why the alternative model will work, and show evidence that it works. Your evidence can include specific real-world examples and/or empirical evidence supporting its effectiveness.
For instance, if your topic is homelessness you will explain why community policing is not effective, describe an alternative model such as a housing first model, explain why the alternative model works, and support your arguments with research evidence.

You are free to answer “yes” for some topics and “no” for other topics. Of course, you can answer “yes” for all or “no” for all. This essay is an argumentative research paper which means I will grade you on the quality of your argument and the corresponding support. Make sure your responses incorporate the terms and ideas from the assigned readings and the academic sources you use in the paper.

I am happy to review your essay before you submit. If you wish for me to review the essay you must send it to me via email by 12/2 so I have time to review it and send it back to you.

Due on 12/6

Guidelines

Your essay must be between 7-10 pages text (page count does not include cover page or reference pages).
Use APA guidelines for formatting the essay, including headings for the different topics.
You must have a minimum of 10 academic sources, not including the textbooks. You can have more than 10 references and are free to also incorporate non-academic sources as long as you have the required 10 academic sources.
You are only allowed two quotes for the entire essay, all other information must be written in your own words.
Make sure your essay includes an introduction and conclusion.
Limit the use of first person narrative and refrain from using the phrases “I believe” or “I think.” Since you are writing the essay, I know these ideas are your own and therefore it is unnecessary to state that reality.