PHIL 347 Week 7 Course Project: Argumentative Paper

Student Name

Chamberlain University

PHIL-347: Critical Reasoning

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Date

Should the Police Be Defunded?

We live in an age where many societal norms and beliefs, ranging from gender roles to wealth, race, rights, and education, are being questioned. Gone are the days when people passively accepted what the government or the dominant narrative told them. Today, individuals seek to be more informed and are increasingly advocating for their rights. One event that catalyzed this shift in awareness was the tragic death of George Floyd, an African American man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck, despite Floyd’s pleas of “I can’t breathe.” While the circumstances surrounding his death remain debated, his death sparked renewed interest in human rights, especially regarding racial injustice. For many, this incident underscored the longstanding unfair treatment of people of color by law enforcement. As a result, some have proposed that if the police cannot fulfill their primary role of protecting the public, they should be defunded. This issue has become highly controversial. However, the author of this paper argues that defunding the police is not the solution for several reasons: defunding may increase crime rates, fail to address racial injustice, and negatively impact local economies. On the other hand, proponents argue that defunding the police could reduce their power over citizens and redirect funds to other areas in need. This paper will explore both the advantages and disadvantages of defunding the police before reaching a conclusion.

Advantages of Defunding the Police

One argument in favor of defunding the police is that it could reduce the power they have to abuse citizens. Racial injustice has long been present in the criminal justice system, with Black people overrepresented in prison populations. According to Hinton et al. (2018), one in three Black men born today is expected to be incarcerated in their lifetime, compared to one in six Latino men and one in seventeen white men. Furthermore, Black women are disproportionately incarcerated as well, with one in eighteen Black women expected to be incarcerated, compared to one in one hundred and eleven white women (Hinton et al., 2018). DeAngelis (2021) also highlights the systemic racism inherent in U.S. policing, noting that the police force lacks sufficient diversity and has a history of racial bias. Data from the Mapping Violence Police Database shows that Black individuals are 17% less likely to be armed at the scene of an encounter, yet they are still disproportionately killed by police officers (DeAngelis, 2021). By defunding the police, it is argued that we could reduce the financial resources available to law enforcement, thereby limiting their ability to perpetuate racial biases and abuses of power.

Additionally, the police force consumes significant resources that could be redirected to other areas in need, such as public safety, mental health services, education, and housing. A study from The Economist (2020) found that many residents in Washington, D.C. opposed a proposed 3.3% increase in police funding, believing that these funds could be better allocated to other critical services. In underprivileged communities, where crime and poverty are prevalent, it might be more effective to invest in community development programs rather than expanding police operations. This would reduce the need for a heavy police presence, which is often associated with systemic racism, and empower the community to address the root causes of crime.

Disadvantages of Defunding the Police

Despite these arguments, there are significant concerns about the consequences of defunding the police. One major issue is the potential for an increase in crime rates. Research by Lum et al. (2021) suggests that a substantial portion of police calls involve non-violent crimes, and it is likely that violent crime rates would increase if police resources were significantly reduced. While it is true that some police officers have engaged in unjust practices, it is important to recognize that not all officers are racist or abusive. Police officers play an essential role in maintaining public safety, and defunding them could lead to a breakdown in law enforcement, leaving citizens without a reliable means of protection.

Furthermore, defunding the police does not address the root cause of racial injustice—racism itself. Roberts and Rizzo (2021) explain that racism is deeply ingrained in societal structures and often manifests in psychological processes, such as power dynamics and media influence. These factors contribute to the belief that some groups, particularly white Americans, are superior to others. While defunding the police may reduce some instances of racially biased behavior by officers, it will not eliminate the underlying psychological factors that perpetuate racism. Racism exists beyond the police force and can continue to manifest in other areas of life, even if law enforcement agencies are defunded.

Additionally, the economic consequences of defunding the police could be significant for local governments. Since the global financial crisis of 2007-2009, many local governments have relied on fines and fees collected by the police to fund their operations (The Economist, 2020). These funds are used to support various community projects and services. If police funding is cut, local governments may experience financial strain, potentially reducing their ability to fund essential public services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the question of whether the police should be defunded is complex and requires careful consideration of both the advantages and disadvantages. After reviewing the arguments, the author concludes that defunding the police is not the most effective solution. While reducing police power and reallocating funds to other sectors may have some benefits, the potential increase in crime rates, the failure to address the deeper issues of racial injustice, and the negative economic impact on local governments make this approach less desirable. Instead, efforts should focus on comprehensive police reform, addressing systemic racism, and investing in community-based solutions that promote both safety and equality.

References

DeAngelis, R. (2021). New Evidence from the Mapping Police Violence Database. Sage Journals. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/21533687211047943

Hinton, E., Henderson, L., Reed, C. (2018). An Unjust Burden: The Disparate Treatment of Black Americans in the Criminal Justice System. Vera Institute of Justice. https://www.vera.org/downloads/publications/for-the-record-unjust-burden-racialdisparities.pdf

Lum, C., Koper, C., Wu, X. (2021). Can We Really Defund the Police? A Nine-Agency Study of Police Response to Calls for Service. Police Quarterly. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10986111211035002