Introduction
Law enforcement is a field that is influenced by both internal and external forces. Agencies are operating in this encounter financial, organizational, social, and economic pressures from different stakeholders. They should also interact positively with communities and deliver desirable services. This discussion explains why (and how) external and internal stakeholders can influence the future of police brutality.
Internal and External Stakeholder
Law enforcement is an integral part of the wider criminal justice system. There are internal stakeholders who are connected in such a way that desired goals are realized. These include judges, police officers, parole officers, lawyers, judges, court personnel, and probation officers (Obasogie & Newman, 2017). These players must liaise with each other in order to apprehend and prosecute offenders. Suspects and criminals are also categorized as internal stakeholders. The ultimate goal of these players is to maintain the integrity of every law enforcement agency in the country.
External stakeholders include politicians, businesses, and media houses. Schulenberg, Chenier, Buffone, and Wojciechowski (2015) indicate that society is part of this group. The media is also tasked with reporting incidences of crime while community members are affected by any form of criminality. Politicians and policymakers are external players who formulate desirable laws to deal with offenders.
Influences
The above stakeholders have influenced the problem of police brutality either positively or negatively. To begin with, internal stakeholders such as police officers and judges have been observed to enforce the law discriminatively. Consequently, more citizens have been affected by the problem. They are also some lawyers who have worked hard to deliver positive results and address the needs of those who are affected by police brutality (Obasogie & Newman, 2017). Some officers and personnel have failed to apprehend and prosecute the right people. They have also victimized others based on their racial backgrounds.
External stakeholders such as media houses, businesses, and societies have used their positions to address this predicament. For instance, the media is always keen to report cases to do with police brutality. They also dig deeper to analyze shootings and different forms of abuse. However, some community members tend to promote malpractices such as racism and inequality (Wahl, 2014). Such misbehaviors have been replicated by police officers and law enforcers. Some policymakers and politicians also work hard to promote superior policies and initiatives that can be used to tackle this problem.
Addressing the Problem
The outlined stakeholders can be considered in an attempt to deal with the above problem since it affects the welfare of many American citizens. The first initiative that should be considered is to engage external stakeholders. These will include family members, communities, businesses, companies, and learning institutions. Such groups will work together to promote superior campaigns that challenge the malpractice. Individuals should also be sensitized about the dangers of police brutality and how it can affect every citizen in the country (Obasogie & Newman, 2017). Policymakers can be encouraged to propose and support powerful laws that have the potential to deal with police brutality. Such policies will encourage more officers to become responsible.
Internal stakeholders should be considered in an attempt to deal with the targeted problem. Lawyers and judges can be empowered and informed about the issues associated with police brutality. Police and correctional officers can be guided to apprehend suspected criminals efficiently and stop relying on their racial backgrounds (Schulenberg et al., 2015). Different law enforcement departments and agencies can be guided to engage in effective policing. Basically, the major stakeholders will be informed about the dangers of police brutality. These actors can coordinate to identify the major catalysts of this malpractice and propose evidence-based measures to deal with it (Wahl, 2014). They will also focus on new policies and campaigns to transform the situation and meet the needs of all citizens.
Motivation
Police brutality remains a major predicament that affects every aspect of American society. Those who are impacted by the malpractice find it hard to achieve their aims in life. Malpractice has also been observed to promote racism and inequality. These challenges explain why all people must be encouraged to support the implementation of new policies aimed at tackling misbehavior (Obasogie & Newman, 2017). It will, therefore, be appropriate to use a powerful strategy to motivate more persons to buy into the proposed solution.
The use of campaigns will sensitize more individuals about the history and true picture of police brutality. Statistics and emerging issues will also be presented to them. They will also be informed about the importance of ethical policing and how it can fulfill every citizen’s needs (Wahl, 2014). This kind of motivation will ensure that the proposed solution is accepted by all stakeholders and reduce the level of brutality in the country.
Conclusion
The law enforcement field is comprised of both external and internal stakeholders. This means that different players have dictated or influenced the nature of most of the obstacles affecting the country, such as police brutality. The above stakeholders should support the introduction of powerful policies to address this misbehavior and empower more citizens in the United States. They should also be motivated in an attempt to deliver positive results.
References
Obasogie, O. K., & Newman, Z. (2017). Police violence, use of force policies, and public health. American Journal of Law & Medicine, 43, 279-295.
Schulenberg, J. L., Chenier, A., Buffone, S., & Wojciechowski, C. (2015). An application of procedural justice to stakeholder perspectives: Examining police legitimacy and public trust in police complaints systems. Policing and Society: An International Journal of Research and Policy, 27(7), 779-796. Web.
Wahl, R. (2014). Justice, context, and violence: Law enforcement officers on why they torture. Law and Society Review, 48(4), 807-836. Web.