Demonizing Police Costs Black Lives
Newsweek, June 28, 2020
2 Pages Posted: 29 Jun 2020
Date Written: June 28, 2020
Abstract
There is social value in widespread public condemnation of police misconduct like the killing of George Floyd. But converting that condemnation into demonizing police generally, rather than making examples of bad cops, is destined to undermine the clarity and effectiveness of strong public condemnation, creating instead divisiveness. Further, demonizing police generally has the effect of further eroding the criminal justice system’s moral credibility and legitimacy, which may be an attractive goal for devoted activists, but ultimately will increase crime and victimization rates, with a disproportionate increase in victimization falling upon the poor and minorities.
Keywords: Law enforcement, police-community relations, Black Lives Matter, abolish & defund police movements, moral credibility of criminal justice system
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation