3 ms·
I have always wondered about the approach in the US of locally managed law enforcement departments. It's almost a given that such local oversight of a group wit
by sfifs 5y ago
I have always wondered about the approach in the US of locally managed law enforcement departments. It's almost a given that such local oversight of a group with a societally granted monopoly on violence will breed corruption, nepotism and abuse as people with power collude locally. No other major country I know of has this system. Law enforcement oversight is almost always at a provincial or national level.
I understand the historical perspective of how this originated as the country was settled but why does it persist?
Could anyone knowledgeable share perspectives?
- eyelidlessness 5y agoAdditional historical perspective: it was designed this way specifically for power, abuse, corruption. The entire jurisdictional system was designed to empower the worst while letting the “best” wash their hands of it. That there’s a through line from slavery to Jim Crow to rampant abuse of power in law enforcement shouldn’t be a surprise.
- plandis 5y agoPeople don’t have much control over their local police force but I don’t understand how making a national police force which citizens have even less control over helps. It’s also not clear to me that instances of corruption and nepotism don’t exist at a national level.
- nyolfen 5y agoi don't know why you think federal law enforcement is any better
- fnord77 5y agothat's not entirely accurate. The PD in Oakland, CA has been under federal oversight for 15 or 20 years now. Due various abuses.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]