Research Proposal on "African-American Perception of Police Being Arrested vs. Needing Assistance"

Research Proposal 12 pages (3178 words) Sources: 3 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

African-American PERCEPTION of POLICE

The proposed study will utilize a number of credible resources to secure information to illuminate concerns and considerations relating to the African-American perception of police. Simultaneously, the proposed study aims to cultivate considerations as how to best combat negative views from both sides of this contemporary, yet seemingly, eternal "issue" that divides races.

African-American PERCEPTION of POLICE

There are those who would keep us slipping back into the darkness of division, into the snake pit of racial hatred, of racial antagonism and of support for symbols of the struggle to keep African-Americans in bondage." - Carol Moseley-Braun (b. 1947), African-American politician. (Columbia, 1996)

The Darkness of Division

Let there be light...," these immortal words, recorded in the book of beginnings in the Bible, Genesis, in chapter 1; verse 3, readily reflect the "message" this researcher's proposed study intends to relate to illuminate concerns and considerations relating to the African-American perception of police. Simultaneously, this researcher hopes to cultivate considerations as how to best combat negative views from both sides of this contemporary, yet seemingly, eternal "issue" that divides races. The statement by Carol Moseley-Braun, a United States Senator from Illinois, introducing this study proposal (published in Newsweek magazine during December 1991), led the Senate to reverse a vote to extend the previously approved patent for a society insignia, incorporating an image of the Confederate flag. Moseley-Braun's poignant phrase, "There are those who would keep us slipping back into the darkness of division," this researcher contents, merits repeating.

Criminologists regularly debate how to answer the question: How much racial profiling or African-Americans actually occurs in the United States? Samuel Walker of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, author of Police Accountability, stresses that it is hard to measure racial profiling, as well as, components contributing to it. Some individuals question whether the percentage of traffic stops for a certain racial group should be compared to that group's percentage in the population or should the measurement equal the percentage of stops vs. The actual driving presence of in particular group in the area where police patrol and initiate stops. When considering the percentage of individuals arrested for a certain crime, should the researchers consider the rate at which others of their race have been previously arrested for the same crime or will that data always be tainted by the racism of police who made the arrests? (Cloud, 2001) Walker suggested that perhaps "the best way to analyze the traffic-stop activity of particular officers is to measure it against the work of other officers pulling comparable shifts." (Cloud, 2001) the cops who disproportionately stop blacks or other minorities presumably could then be easily identified. Although this particular play and sounds appealing, the majority of studies do not collect traffic-stop data on a police-by-police basis.

Although this practice is implemented Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, according to Robert McNeilly Jr., the city's police chief, the habit of reporting this type data can lead to controversy, as random quarter-to-quarter fluctuations in data can produce misleading headlines. McNeilly Jr. posits that a federal auditor consistently find Pittsburgh's police stop minorities' record remains proportion to their all-around presence in the population. (Cloud, 2001) One reportedly common form of "racial profiling occurs when police stop, question, and search African-American, Hispanic-American, or members of other racial minorities disproportionately based solely on the individuals' race or ethnicity." ("Racial Profiling...," 2008) During 1996, ABC television network aired "Driving While Black," a report following three younger black men that ABC paid to drive around the New Brunswick, New Jersey, in a Mercedes-Benz.

During the time, the three African-Americans drove in the city, three policeman pulled the Mercedes-Benz. over for a minor traffic infraction and subsequently began search the car and the young men.

This "experiment" revealed that little doubt existed that the police primarily pulled the three men over because they were African-American. Later, however, the officers filed a defamation suit against ABC. The police claimed ABC defamed their character, as they violated New Jersey's anti-wiretapping law. ANew Jersey Superior Court judge dismissed the policeman's lawsuit in 2000. ("Racial Profiling...," 2008)

Rationale for Study

Divisions and debates relating to racial profiling abound in the U.S. today, as well as, in other countries. As racial profiling continues to be a concern which negatively impacts not only the African-American perception of police, but also the police community as well, this researcher reports that this subject deserves more consideration and exposure. As the proposed study will enlighten leaders and challenge them to consider current choices in this matter, this researcher contends the examination of African-American perception of police proves to present pertinent problem which society has no choice but to challenge.

1.2: Study Area

Although racial profiling, which constitutes a primary factor in the development of the African-American perception of police, is not exclusive to the United States or any other countries, the proposed study focuses on this act, along with other considerations, exclusively in the U.S.

The following excerpt from the testimony of Captain Ron Davis, Oakland Police Department, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), reflects a sense of the dark division racial profiling stimulates.

Racial profiling... is one of the most ineffective strategies, and I call it nothing less than lazy, sloppy police work. it's basically saying you don't want to learn about your community, you don't want to learn about people's behavior, you don't want to do your job, and don't want to investigate, you just want to stop a lot of people and see if you can come up with some statistical number at the end of the evening ("Racial Profiling Laws...," 2008)

The following figure (1) denotes the racial profiling status of various states.

Figure 1: Map of States denoting Racial Profiling Status ("Racial Profiling Laws...," 2008)

1.3: Study Structure

For this researcher's proposed study, chapters following the introduction will include the following sections:

Literature Review

Methodology

Results/analysis

Discussion, Conclusions & Recommendations

During the literature review, the second chapter of the proposed study, this researcher plans to consult at least 20 sources and retrieve relevant literature and data, to analyze to determine the validity of the hypothesis of the proposed study. Research will be obtained through virtual and online libraries, to include books, scholarly journals, magazine articles, newspaper articles.

The third chapter for the proposed study, the methodology will identify and expand on details utilized during the course of research. The literature research methodology will be the primary plan implemented during the study effort.

Chapter four of the proposed study will relate results retrieved from the analyses of information/data obtained during the literature review. A discussion relating to the results of information analyzed will be included in this section. Chapter five of the proposed study will relate determinations from the study, along with the study's verdict of the hypothesis. Conclusions regarding the study of African-American perception of police, along with recommendations for future study, will also be included in the fifth and final chapter of this dissertation. This researcher purports this particular format for the proposed study, analyzing literature, will prove to be effective as it offers an opportunity to access a myriad information/data to fill and enhance this researcher's aims and objectives.

1.4: Aim and Objectives

This researcher aims to explore African-American perception of police to hopefully, as noted earlier, to increase understanding regarding this contemporary challenging concern that counters positive relationships between African-Americans in police. Objectives for the proposed study include:

Objective One

Thoroughly examine factors contributing to the African-American perception of police and the determination as to how this population perceives police in the areas of the affected African-American populations will reflect negative perceptions of police. Also, explore responses African-Americans demonstrate in arrest protocols, versus/and requests for police assistance.

Objective Two

Create relevant research questions relating to the African-American perception of police, and answer these questions, along with retrieving other pertinent information through the proposed study's methodology/

Objective Three

Develop a relevant hypothesis regarding the African-American perception of police and determine its validity.

Research Questions

Current research questions aligned to the intent of the proposed study's focus include:

What is racial profiling?

What "unjust" acts by police instigate complaints by affected, as well as, as observant, concerned individuals.

How do racial profiling and other "unjust" acts by police affect the African-American perception of police?

How can an individual best challenge racial profiling and/or mistreatment by police?

What strategies can African-Americans and police implement to improve relations and decrease incidents of racial profiling and other "unjust" acts by police, as well as, demonstrations of disrespect by African-Americans.

Hypothesis

When racial profiling and/or other racially, motivated "unjust" police actions are routinely practiced, then the affected African-American populations will reflect negative perceptions of police.

In regard to arrest protocols, versus/and requests for police assistance, this researcher expects the proposed study to reveal African-Americans display angry, anxious, and/or antagonistic perceptions, as well as, affirmative, affectionate, and/or appreciative perceptions toward police. The nature of perceptions, this researcher contends, often depends on personal experiences. During the following chapter (2) of… READ MORE

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