University of South Florida
Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of South Florida, and founder of the Fair and Impartial Policing Program, which trains police departments to limit racial bias
PROFILE
Lorie Fridell
Guest
FROM Lorie Fridell
To the Point
Law Enforcement on Trial in America In Charleston, South Carolina cellphone video appears to show criminal conduct by police officer Michael Slager. He was fired and charged with murder shortly after the video went viral. It's the most damning in a series of videos that have created a crisis of public confidence in law enforcement. Such recent body-cam and bystander videos appear to confirm the worst accusations against police in some parts of America. They show what looks like racial profiling, abuse of force and tampering with evidence. They suggest that some cops believe they can get away with murder. Everybody agrees police face danger on a daily basis, but there's a growing consensus that steps are needed to counteract a loss of public confidence. Is better training what's needed to overcome deficiencies in cop culture?
To the Point
Fear and Bias from the Streets to the Courtroom Since white police officers recently killed unarmed black men and boys in New York, Cleveland and Ferguson, Missouri, street protests have continued around the country and put America’s justice system on trial. There’s unequal treatment not just in the use of force but also the power of prosecutors to racially profile criminal suspects. Overt racism may be on the decline, but fear, unconscious bias and stereotyping are harder to recognize and overcome. Will sharing experiences on social media help close the gaps? Will training programs lead to reforms?
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