| Abstract | The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of what community members believe are the major issues with policing, along with the best ways to solve these issues. The researcher recruited and interviewed six activists and three police officers. The study contains qualitative data, gathered through semi-structured interviews to explore ideas related to issues with police in the United States. Then, the researcher analyzed common themes in the interviews in order to understand the feasibility and effectiveness of proposed strategies to improve policing. This resulted in three general categories: reforming the police, defunding the police, and abolishing the police. Most activists suggested simple reform strategies, most commonly suggesting strategies like increasing diversity in police departments, forming citizen advisory boards, and defunding the police. A key finding showed that most activists recognize systemic issues with police, but strategies for substantial change are not well-known. Participants mentioned the strategies of abolition and defunding the least, but these seem to fall in line better with the issues with police that the participants pointed out. Community members easily pointed out problems with the police, but many failed to actually address these issues with their proposed solutions. In order to move forward and create a fair, just, and safe policing system in America, strategies must go past simple reform. Calls to defund or abolish the police are significant, and researchers should further study these solutions to gain a more comprehensive understanding. |
