Full Answer Section

These historical issues have contributed to the public’s perception of the disparities in the criminal justice system. Many people believe that the police are more likely to target and arrest minorities than white people. This perception is supported by data that shows that minorities are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. For example, African Americans are more likely to be arrested, convicted, and sentenced to prison than white people.

The disparity in employment of minorities in policing may be causally linked to the areas of disparate treatment of minority citizens. For example, if a police department has a history of discrimination against minorities, it is less likely to hire and promote minority officers. This, in turn, can contribute to a perception among minority citizens that the police are not there to protect them.

There are a number of things that can be done to address the historical issues related to the employment of minorities and women in policing. These include:

• Providing more training on implicit bias: Implicit bias is the unconscious tendency to favor one group of people over another. Police officers need to be trained on implicit bias so that they can be aware of their own biases and how they can affect their interactions with the public.
• Encouraging more minority and female applicants: Police departments need to make it clear that they are committed to hiring and promoting minorities and women. They can do this by advertising in minority and women’s publications and by reaching out to minority and women’s organizations.
• Creating a more diverse police force: A more diverse police force is more likely to be trusted by minority citizens. This is because minority citizens are more likely to see themselves represented in a diverse police force.

By addressing these historical issues, we can help to create a more just and equitable criminal justice system.