Study: Militarization of police does not reduce crime

A new look at existing data by LSU researchers refutes the Trump administration's claims.

Credit: Megan Varner/Getty
  • The United States Department of Defense gifts surplus military equipment and clothing to local police departments.
  • The militarization of police coincides with a significant loss of trust in law enforcement from the American public.
  • Militarized police departments are more likely to interact violently with their communities.
Keep reading Show less
crime criminal justice free speech military protests trust justice system Police

This spreadsheet lists 1,000+ cases of alleged police brutality amid George Floyd protests

The videos raise serious legal and moral questions about police crowd-control tactics.

via @Whitney_hu on Twitter
  • The publicly accessible Google Sheet lists more than 1,000 incidents of alleged police misconduct.
  • Each entry is organized by city, and most contain a link to a video.
  • From tear gas to rubber bullets, the videos highlight the extensive powers police are given in certain situations.
Keep reading Show less
law social change government protests Police violence Police brutality Police

Excessive police fines substantially decrease public safety, study reveals

Handing out tickets might be distracting police departments from working on more serious crimes.

Flickr user Tanenhaus
  • Recent research uncovered that the more a city's police department collects fines and fees, the less effective they are at solving crimes.
  • In cities where violent crimes are not solved, trust in the police goes down. As a result, citizens report fewer crimes to the police, causing a vicious cycle.
  • To address this, cities need to focus less on fining those who break minor laws and focus more on violent/property crimes.
Keep reading Show less
judicial system Criminal justice system unfair policing crime justice police

Why Good Cops Must Speak Out About ‘Bad Apples’

Former tennis pro James Blake makes a case for transparency in police departments.

What is the "blue wall of silence"? It's a term for when the police department says either nothing wrong or nothing at all about the discrepancies of a fellow police officer. If taken to extreme lengths, this silence allows police officers the ability to do pretty much do whatever they want providing that there isn't evidence to the contrary. In tennis professional James Blake's case, a few years ago, just before a U.S. Open media day, he was tackled outside of a Manhattan hotel by a police officer in a case of alleged mistaken identity. Four other police officers stood by the arresting officer and maintained that Blake had been in custody no more than a couple of minutes. They hadn't counted on security footage from the hotel that proved that James Blake had been in custody for nearly 15 minutes—even after showing them evidence of his identity with his U.S. Open credentials. With so many cases of police brutality in the news, it's easy to see why James' case is relevant. Should police stand up for themselves or the truth? James Blake is the author of Ways of Grace: Stories of Activism, Adversity, and How Sports Can Bring Us Together.

activism police videos

CSI: How Refined Is Your Visual Intelligence?

Are you detective material? This visual intelligence test will make you think twice about accuracy and just how much details matter.

Amy Herman’s visual intelligence tests and exercises are best done with a friend, because every time they unveil something about perspective that you didn’t expect. Herman created and teaches a course called The Art of Perception to doctors, intelligence analysts and the NYPD, and while her lessons are entertaining for individuals looking to have their minds blown, they are immensely relevant for businesses and even more so for criminal investigations.

Keep reading Show less
Amy Herman crime scene detail investigation Magritte perception police visual intelligence eye witness testimony videos
Quantcast