Central issue involved in both of the MindTap exercises

Do you think that police use of excessive force is a problem in your state? Your country? Yes, I believe that police use of excessive force is a problem in my state and country. There have been a number of high-profile cases in recent years in which police officers have used excessive force, resulting in the death of unarmed civilians. These cases have led to widespread protests and calls for reform. In my state of California, there have been a number of cases of police use of excessive force in recent years. In 2018, Stephon Clark was shot and killed by police in Sacramento. Clark was unarmed and running away from police when he was shot. In 2020, George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd was handcuffed and lying on the ground when he was pinned to the ground by a police officer and suffocated. These are just two examples of the many cases of police use of excessive force that have occurred in California and across the country. These cases have led to widespread protests and calls for reform. What evidence do you use to support this? There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that police use of excessive force is a problem in the United States. A 2019 study by the Cato Institute found that police use of force was disproportionately used against black and Hispanic people. The study found that black people were 2.5 times more likely to be shot and killed by police than white people. Hispanic people were 1.7 times more likely to be shot and killed by police than white people. Another study, by the ACLU, found that police use of force was more likely to be used against people with mental illness. The study found that people with mental illness were 16 times more likely to be shot and killed by police than people without mental illness. These studies provide clear evidence that police use of excessive force is a problem in the United States. This problem is disproportionately affecting black and Hispanic people, as well as people with mental illness. What are some newer approaches that police departments are taking to ensure their officers do not abuse their power and violate citizens' rights? There are a number of newer approaches that police departments are taking to ensure their officers do not abuse their power and violate citizens' rights. These approaches include:

• Body cameras: Body cameras are becoming increasingly common among police departments. Body cameras can help to deter police misconduct by providing video evidence of police interactions with the public.
• Independent investigations: When there is a complaint of police misconduct, it is important that the investigation is conducted by an independent agency. This will help to ensure that the investigation is fair and impartial.
• Civilian oversight boards: Civilian oversight boards can help to hold police departments accountable for their actions. These boards are made up of civilians who are not affiliated with the police department. They can review complaints of police misconduct and make recommendations to the police department.
• Training: Police officers need to be trained on how to de-escalate situations and how to use force in a safe and appropriate manner. This training should include scenarios that address implicit bias and the use of force against people with mental illness.

Which of these do you think is the most effective, and why? I believe that the most effective approach to preventing police misconduct is to have independent investigations of all complaints of police misconduct. This will help to ensure that the investigations are fair and impartial. Independent investigations can also help to build trust between the police department and the community. I also believe that civilian oversight boards can be an effective way to hold police departments accountable for their actions. These boards can review complaints of police misconduct and make recommendations to the police department. This can help to ensure that the police department is responsive to the needs of the community. I believe that a combination of these approaches is the most effective way to prevent police misconduct. This will help to ensure that police officers are held accountable for their actions and that the community can trust the police department.

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