How to Rethink the Policing Function

Overview

Since the police killing of George Floyd in May 2020, the country has seen a renewed, urgent call to reimagine what the police response could and should be, as well as the appropriate role of other government agencies in meeting communities’ public safety needs.

This document lays out guiding principles and initial concrete steps for jurisdictions to begin the process of reimagining what the police response should be and how to achieve public safety through decreased enforcement methods and increased social interventions.

Read the full resource: How to Rethink the Policing Function (.PDF) — Read the full resource: *How to Rethink the Policing Function* (.PDF)

Key TakeAways

1). It is critical to have a formal process to identify and understand the needs of the jurisdiction and how any new plan would meet them, including identifying all the relevant stakeholders who should be represented in any effort at transformation.

2). Any reimagining of the public safety response should be a partnership between community members, police, other government agencies, and local service providers.

3). This process will be lengthy and complex, and it is critical that everyone involved in the process understand thoroughly the facts, what options are available, obstacles to change, and how these efforts can have the most impact.