Reading Assignment for Section 5.5

Read the following subsection from our online textbook: Section 5.5: The Crisis of Legitimacy

What You Will Learn

In this section, you’ll explore the historical evolution of policing in the United States and how shifts through the Political, Reform, and Community Eras have shaped public trust in law enforcement. You’ll examine the challenges and opportunities of policing multicultural communities and the importance of cultural awareness in building stronger relationships. Finally, you’ll analyze procedural justice, strategies for reducing bias, and methods for promoting fairness, transparency, and accountability to address the crisis of legitimacy and improve confidence in policing.

Student Learning Outcomes for Section 5.5

• SLO 1: Summarize the historical evolution of policing in the United States, including the Political, Reform, and Community Eras, and analyze how these changes have impacted public trust.
• SLO 2: Evaluate the challenges and opportunities of policing in multicultural communities, including the importance of cultural awareness and strategies for improving relationships with diverse populations.
• SLO 3: Explain the concept of procedural justice, including internal and external fairness, and describe its role in building trust between police and the communities they serve.
• SLO 4: Assess the impact of explicit and implicit biases in policing and recommend strategies for reducing bias through training and policy changes.
• SLO 5: Propose methods for integrating fairness, transparency, and accountability into modern policing practices to address the crisis of legitimacy and improve public confidence in law enforcement.