Police Brutality and Reform: A Featured Controversy from Issues & Controversies

Featured in Issues & Controversies:
Police Brutality and Reform: Does Policing in the United States Need to Fundamentally Change?

Does policing in the United States need to fundamentally change? Be sure to check out Issues & Controversies’ complete and unbiased coverage of this divisive issue. Here is a sample of the pro/con arguments on both sides of the issue.

SUPPORTERS ARGUE
Police officers regularly abuse, harass, and brutalize Americans, particularly black men, without repercussion. Demilitarization, body cameras, bias training, accountability for bad cops, and limits on when officers can use force are all necessary reforms. Governments should defund and downsize police departments and shift those resources to services that actually help the public.

OPPONENTS ARGUE
Reports of widespread police brutality are exaggerated, and charges of pervasive racism in law enforcement are simply unfounded. Only rarely do officers use excessive force, though they must often make instant decisions in tense situations. Defunding police departments will only endanger the impoverished, minority neighborhoods activists proclaim they want to protect.

The pro/con article links to rich related resources that enhance the debate. Students and researchers can explore the “By the Numbers” data, primary sources that provide context, key court cases, debate videos, NPR podcasts, infographics, editorials, a Reuters® newsfeed, a chronology, and a bibliography and further resources. Plus, discussion questions are provided to inspire critical thinking and analysis.

What Is Issues & Controversies?

Issues & Controversies is a multimedia solution that helps students understand contemporary issues, assess different perspectives, distinguish fact from opinion, reach their own conclusions, and build critical thinking and writing skills. It features balanced pro/con articles and primary sources for current events, civics instruction, and class discussion.