Evaluate efforts by elected official to build more fair and effective policing.

Module 3: Discussion Forum
One criticism of crime risk analysis is that it leads to racial profiling. Provide an example of a policing strategy that you believe supports this criticism and answer the following questions: (1) What makes this strategy appear discriminatory; (2) how can the strategy be altered to help policy identify crime risks more fairly and effectively?
Be sure to support your statements with logic and argument, citing any sources referenced

Criminal Justice Policy Development and Analysis
Module 3: Crime Prevention and Policing Policies
In the first part of this module, we will discuss ways that police can prevent crime. The earlier policing strategies, applying the same resources to all geographic locations regardless of need, have been replaced with strategies that allocate resources to areas with concentrations of crime. These areas have become known as hotspots of crime.

We will explore the various crime prevention strategies that are proactive, rather than reactive, to crime reduction. Through the manipulation of the environment, hardening of targets, crime can be stopped before it starts. These methods are based on routine activities theory, which states that for crime to occur three elements must exist in space and time: a motivated offender must come into contact with a suitable target in the absence of a capable guardian; and rational choice theory which states that crime will be committed if the reward for the crime outweighs the risk. By hardening targets, making victimization more difficult, the risk for the crime (i.e., getting caught) will outweigh the reward.

Lastly, we will examine ways in which both elected officials and police can build fairer policing strategies. When policing strategies are used in a heavy-handed and discriminatory way, the legitimacy of the police is called into question damaging relationship with the communities these agencies serve to protect. To restore legitimacy, it is important to build policing strategies that are seen as fair and interactions with the public are based on respect. We will assess the different methods by which police can build trust and respect including the use of restorative practices between police and citizens and/or offenders.
Learning Outcomes
Discuss crime prevention strategies and policies.
Examine police strategies to reduce crime.
Evaluate efforts by elected official to build more fair and effective policing.
Assess the ways in which police can build trust and respect.
For Your Success & Readings
You have a bit more assigned reading this week than in most other weeks, so it is best to get a start on them as early in the week as you can. The topics in this module may be of great interest to you as they have relevance to our everyday lives—how we go about our daily routines and ways that we can protect our property from victimization.
Here are some reminders that will help you achieve success in this module and the course in general:
Review the Discussion Question and make your substantive posting as early in the week as possible. Remember that you should cite to the course materials/readings or other outside research in the initial post (at a minimum but certainly in any follow-up comments as well). Make sure to post two equally substantive replies to two of your fellow classmates’ responses before Sunday at midnight. Comments posted after Sunday at midnight will not be accepted for credit.
Engage with the assigned and recommended readings.
Review the Portfolio Project and determine which option you would like to submit in Week 8. Prepare a summary of the policy you are considering for your project. In your summary, please provide the name of the policy you have chosen as well as the summary, including a brief summary of the findings (For example, if researching drug courts—what types of cases do they accept; what is the rate of recidivism for that have been through drug court; etc.).
Reach out to your instructor with any questions regarding course material or for assistance with questions regarding your portfolio milestone.