Chapter 7, Response Paper. (Introduction to Criminology)

Chapter 7, Response Paper (Introduction to Criminology) Name: Institution: Course: Instructor: Date: Chapter 7, Response Paper (Introduction to Criminology) Definition of Unconscious Bias and how you would address that Issue in Policing. Unconscious bias refers to an officer's immediate prejudice or adverse reaction to an individual. Prejudice is expressed as anger or attitude directed to an individual, and the person doing that is unaware of the prejudice. The typically unintentional bias is directed at an individual or a group. The consequences of unconscious bias are dire, including perception of people, decision-making, and behavior towards the person or group. One common form of unconscious bias is stereotyping based on race, ethnic background, gender, economic class, religion, and level of education. In policing, unconscious bias results in disparities in the treatment of individuals in criminal activities and other offenses. Therefore, unconscious bias results in unjust or discriminatory actions against individuals or groups seeking policing services or implicated in offenses. One primary form of stereotyping in the policing sector is racism. Police officers of color tend to stereotype Blacks, and this has resulted in several unfair cases that have caught human rights attention. There is a tendency to believe that the Blacks engage in more criminal activity compared to the whites and are usually given worse punishments. The stereotyping is a negative attitude, and the officers must reduce such biases to maintain impartiality in their duties. Summary of the Reading The chapter titled "Police Deviance" delves into the various deviances or unexpected conduct of police officers. As they say, humans are prone to error; police, being human by nature, are prone to intentional or unintentional mistakes. The authority and responsibilities be...