Interview
How to fix America's police
- Racial disparities in stops and use of force are attributed to structural factors rather than crime and poverty alone, with the complexity of reforming 18,000 independent law enforcement entities presenting a significant barrier to change.
- Reform efforts face obstacles including decentralized policy-making, union protections that hinder the removal of problematic officers, and prosecutor reluctance to charge officers due to career dependencies on police testimony.
- Legal frameworks such as qualified immunity are expected to be targeted for elimination to address the lack of accountability in egregious incidents, while a "defund" initiative aims to reallocate resources from punishment to community empowerment to reduce reliance on police intervention.
- The federal government is anticipated to maintain a minimal role in policing reform, shifting responsibility to states and localities, where cities from New York to Los Angeles are already considering dismantling or restructuring police departments.
- Future reforms and the trajectory of public safety are contingent upon political will, the outcomes of elections at all levels of government, and collective societal choices regarding how oppressed citizens are treated.