Interacting with Diverse Populations - Coursework Example

Interacting with Diverse Populations Los Angeles is a that up to has received numerous immigrants from global states like Mexico, Central America, East Asia, Russia, Iran and Ethiopia. The diversity in Los Angeles is part of a broader urban restructuring that has transformed the region’s economy and created a sprawling global city region. The 2000 census recorded a population of 47 percent Latino, 10 percent Asian, 11 percent blacks and 30 percent whites. Clearly, Los Angeles is a city with a diverse population (Sonenshein, 2013).

Los Angeles is a city with people bearing varied cultural backgrounds ranging from those unable to understand English, disabled and all ages. Understanding and dealing with people from such a diverse population may be a challenge. There is a wide range of variables that the police service needs to recognize in order to provide a professional service to a heterogeneous population. Among these variables, embrace difficulties in understanding the elderly, individuals who speak little or no English, people that have different cultural backgrounds and those with disabilities or experiencing diseases that may impair their ability of communicating effectively (Hess, Orthmann & Cho, 2014).

Furthermore, the police have to deal with people with special needs like the physically challenged, crime victims, victims of domestic violence, the mentally ill and the homeless (Dempsey & Forst, 2013). The police service has to incorporate changes that will improve relations with the community. In addition, changes ought to be in policies, procedures and practices deemed necessary to improve law enforcement work and accountability. Hence, reduce racism, enhance the administration of justice as well as ensuring reconciliation among diverse segments of the entire community.

Cultural competence initiatives in police training and community relations can have a significant and positive impact on both the police and the community as a whole (Norman-Major & Gooden, 2012). Globally, police training focuses on the study of the law and police procedures. When the officers go to the real world, they experience numerous problems because deep understanding about criminals and the general population was not evident in their training. This is the major reason why diverse populations challenge officers, leading to the need for forensic psychology professionals who can help them deal with these challenges (Canter, 2010).

The forensic psychologists instill the police with important skills that will enable them to avoid biasness and prejudice when communicating with any member of the community they police. In evaluating the success of training intervention with the police force, a number of police officers attended training workshops, completed pre- and post-surveys including knowledge, attitudes and behavioral interventions. A positive impact on the police work was noted. Particular improvements in communication between police officers and mentally disabled persons were noted in one-third of the cases.

It was demonstrated that short educational interventions produced change in the officers’ attitude towards the diverse community and left officers feeling more informed and confident to interact with the diverse community they police (Shipley & Arrigo, 2012). Understanding and dealing with people from such a diverse population may be a challenge. As we have seen, the community the police serve is extremely diverse. In addition, special populations offer unique challenges for police departments.

Forensic psychology should be in the police-training academy before they come out to the real world. This will ensure that they are better equipped to understand and deal with all people regardless of their race, ethnicity, age or disability.ReferenceDavid Canter. (2010). Forensic Psychology: A Very Short Introduction. OUP Oxford. Dempsey, J. S., & Forst, L. S. (2013). Police. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning. Hess, K. M., Orthmann, C. M. H., & Cho, H. L. (2014). Police operations: Theory and practice.

Clifton Park, N.Y: Delmar. Norman-Major, K. A., & Gooden, S. (2012). Cultural competency for public administrators. Armonk, N.Y: M.E. Sharpe. Shipley, S. L., & Arrigo, B. A. (2012). Introduction to forensic psychology: Court, law enforcement, and correctional practices. S.l.: Academic Press. Sonenshein, R. J. (2013). City at Stake: Secession, Reform, and the Battle for Los Angeles. Princeton, N.J: Woodstock : Princeton University Press. Bottom of FormBottom of FormBottom of FormBottom of FormBottom of FormBottom of FormBottom of Form