Reforming the Police

Abstract

It is very difficult to overhaul any large institution. Organizational culture and institutionalized practices are not conducive to change. Such bureacratic inertia is the norm for police departments as it is for other organizations. The history of policing is filled with instances in which police forces – throughout the world – succeeded in foiling or diluting reforms (Weitzer 1985, 1995; Goldsmith 2005). Still, major change has occurred in some nations over the past three decades, usually precipitated by one or more of the following: a disturbing scandal; sustained pressure from the media, political leaders, or civil rights groups; a change in the leadership of the department; or outside intervention by some authority (Sherman 1978; Weitzer 2005). Under the right conditions, progressive changes can enhance the quality of police service and improve relations between cops and the communities they serve. Policies on the use of force are a good example. The number of citizens killed by police has declined as police departments nationwide have tightened their policies on use of firearms (Brown and Langan 2001). And, although it does not happen frequently, investigations of police departments by blue-ribbon commissions or by an executive agency have resulted in some meaningful reforms. In 1994 the U.S. Justice Department was empowered by law to initiate “pattern-or-practice” litigation against police departments accused of systematic violation of citizens' rights – and this power has been used successfully to force reforms in several urban police departments (Walker 2005).