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Gabriel Gonzales
LEPS-599 Integrative Capstone- Module 5
Modern Criminology & Criminal Justice Issues
https://gabrielgonzalesnationalcity.weebly.com/
November 16th, 2020

Some of the most challenging crime problems and issues facing criminal justice

organizations today are the same as yesterday and will be the same as tomorrow. In my opinion,

anticipating and adjusting to change is the biggest issue we face. Law enforcement is only part of

a solution to many of society's problems. However, police organizations have to carry a large

part of the responsibility when developing solutions involving criminal matters. In the three

reports below, I identify a few contemporary issues related to change that law enforcement

organizations have today.

Anticipating change can be difficult for law enforcement organizations to predict, and

adapting to change can be difficult for law enforcement members to accept. A contemporary

issue facing officers today is a public perception of the use of force, specifically deadly force.

While most officers' actions are made in good faith, the perception of their actions has become

increasingly important when evaluating their tactics. In my first report, I complete a

memorandum to our Chief of Police, suggesting an amendment to the Use of Force Policy. In

this report, I recommend the department considers additional restrictions on the use of force

tactics that potentially restrict oxygen or blood flow to a person's brain. These restrictions

include reasonably limiting standing, sitting, or kneeling on a person's diaphragm during a

detention and providing medical attention when any person reveals difficulty breathing. Very

minimal police contacts require the use of force, and very few of those result in death. However,
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to improve public perception and maintain police legitimacy, the use of force standards must

adapt accordingly.

Drug policy is slowly becoming more lenient. This year Oregon was the first state to

decriminalize the possession of hard drugs for personal use. California is not far behind with its

changes in drug policy. In my second paper, I analyze how a drug user's "set" (frame of mind)

and "setting" (environment) promote drug use, Which I believe to be a key contributor to

homelessness and mental illness. In my humble opinion, decriminalizing drug use further creates

a culture for these settings to flourish. However, as law enforcement members, we serve the

people and abide by legislation establish by its citizens. An issue municipal departments face is

finding new ways to work with these limitations while preserving its citizens' quality of life.

President Obama recommended diversity in law enforcement in his Final Report on 21st

Century Policing. In my third report, I identify the issue of bias, not with the public, but within

the hiring process. There is a belief that diversifying police departments will reduce police

violence and improve citizen contacts. Bias and preferential treatment in the selection process are

now unavoidable, which can be ironic when we try to eliminate bias-based policing.

Additionally, we now recognize the need for more female officers. This creates an issue because

our hiring process disproportionately impacts women from advancing through the selection

process, specifically with the physical assessment test. I think the benefits of having women now

exceed the need for upper body strength in the field. The agency selection process can become a

critical issue if departments strive for more females on the front lines. Additionally, if found to

have a disparate impact on women, this portion of the testing process could become

discriminatory.
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As I mentioned in my introduction, identifying future challenges, accepting them as

reality, and adjusting practices is one of the most significant issues that face law enforcement

organizations.