Militarization and Police Brutality - Annotated Bibliography Example

Section/# Annotated Bibliography Thesis: The militarization of the police force within the United s has a profound and measurable impact on the overall levels of police brutality that are being witnessed in increased measure around the country. Topic: Militarization and Police Brutality Beede, B. R. (2008). THE ROLES OF PARAMILITARY AND MILITARIZED POLICE. Journal Of Political & Military Sociology, 36(1), 53-63. Whereas a great deal of the information that has been represented in terms of police brutality has been concentric upon individual instances and the means by which “good officers” can “go bad”, this particular piece of research focuses upon the role of paramilitary and militarized police. Essentially, as the United States police force is becoming more and more militarized, as a direct result of the fact that the Pentagon and other agencies are selling military surplus that has come back from Iraq and Afghanistan to police departments, the expectation that these police departments will be more aggressive and more brutal and unrelenting on their “fight against crime” has come to be expected. Although the piece does focused mainly upon the process of the militarization of police, the tangential understanding that can be gained is the fact that this militarization has caused a psychological shift in the way that at least engage with crime. The veracity and truthfulness of this particular article is almost without question; due to the fact that it was published in a scholarly journal and thoroughly peer-reviewed. Furthermore, the author of the article has also been responsible for authoring several other pieces with relation to militarization of police and the overall impact upon society that these paramilitary forces have. Kimper, J. (2014). WHY MILITARIZED POLICE DEPARTMENTS DONT WORK: CONFRONTING ANGRY CITIZENS IN THE GARB OF JACK-BOOTED THUGS DOES PLENTY OF DAMAGE, ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING. Newsweek Global, 163(8), 30-38. This particular article examines the correlation between the militarization of police and the overall level of violence that these so-called “peace officers” are willing to direct the average citizen. The author indicates that even though it might seem as a trivial matter, the actual clothing and tactical weapons that police are now receiving has had a direct correlation to the overall level of violence that they are comfortable with directing at the citizen. The source goes on to indicate the fact is that the militarization of the police is a relatively new occurrence; even though concerns and issues over police brutality is an issue that has been represented for a very long period of time. Further, the article indicates that even though it is possible that innate levels of racism within individual police departments as slowly dropped over the past several years, the increased militarization of the police is something that has essentially transformed the way in which they perform their jobs. In terms of the overall veracity and truthfulness of the source, is the understanding of this particular student that it was both well researched and documented. Even though it was not published in a scholarly journal, the author of the article has been published in many other format and is nothing short of a scholar with respect to issues concerning the militarization of police, police brutality, and the changing face of the criminal justice system within the United States. For these reasons, it is the interpretation of this particular student that the source is a reliable one that can indeed be utilized within the research which will be conducted. LAWSON, T. F. (2013). POWERLESS AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY: A FELONS STORY. St. Thomas Law Review, 25(2), 218-243. This particular article provides a distinctive view of police brutality. Oftentimes, analysis of police brutality is conducted from something of a neutral standpoint which seeks to understand the actions perpetrated by police as compared to the actions that were perpetrated by the individual that experienced police brutality. However, few articles, with the exception of this one, delve into the overall legal channels and options available to an individual that has experienced police caliber. In this particular case, the article is useful in that it represents the perspective of a felon that has been the victim of police brutality and how he ultimately faces extraordinary hardship as a function of ensuring that the individuals that were unjust and overly violent and aggressive towards him face the consequences of their actions. Essentially, the article underscores and highlights the fact the criminal justice system is biased and unfair; especially with respect to punishing police brutality and ensuring that the exhibition of this particular practice is diminished over time. The veracity and truth of this particular source is especially strong; due in part to the fact that it was published within a well respected Journal of Law and has been peer-reviewed. For this reason, the overall level of academic rigor and cross examination that this piece has undergone exceeds many of the others that will be utilized within the research and will essentially add to the merit of the argument in question. Levitz, J. (2014, August 14). Towns Say No Tanks to Militarized Police. Wall Street Journal (Online). p. 1. Whereas very little information has been put forward thus far with respect to the citizens response to police brutality and police militarization, the article in question seeks to provide just such a perspective. Although the case in point is only with respect to one particular town, it does provide the reader with an understanding as to how individual townships and cities are beginning to consider and reconsider the impact that the militarization of police will have upon the overall quality of life and happiness/piece that individuals within such regions could otherwise experience. As with previous sources, the fact that this particular resource was published in a widely read newspaper does somewhat assuage the fears of the reader with respect to its veracity and truth. However, successive fact checking reveals the fact that the information that has been presented within the article is both true and accurate; as well as worthy of inclusion and further research on the topic. Wolverton, I. (2014). When Local Police Become a: "STANDING ARMY". (Cover story). New American (08856540), 30(17), 10-17. The linkage between police brutality and the overall mentality that these individuals have as a function of approaching their daily job duties is an essential understanding towards attempting to ameliorate the situation. As such, this particular article provides a great deal of historical background with respect to the way in which police forces around the nation have become more assertive, aggressive, and militarized in the face of seemingly nonexistent threats. For instance, the author illustrates the fact that the militarization of the police force has come during a period in time in which violent crime rates are at the lowest that they had been within nearly 30 years. The author further indicates the fact that the militarization of the police and the increasingly aggressive tactics that ultimately culminate in police brutality seem unjustified; especially within the sense that the overall rates of decreasing crime have created a situation in which the threat to officer safety is at the lowest rate that it has been within decades. Although the truthfulness and veracity of any article that is published within the mainstream news is always subject question, the assertions that are made by the author are well argued and put forward in a distinctively thoughtful manner. As such, successive fact checking of the inference that the author made and the unique statistics that he put forward indicates the fact that the research has been well applied and points to the correct understanding. Read More