Law Enforcement Screenings and Discussion Questions
Law Enforcement Screenings and Discussion Questions
The film Arlington , TX : A Community Policing Story can be used in an internal training seminar to initiate and sustain conversations around the prioritization of police-community trust building , the central principles of legitimacy-based policing , and the importance of internal and external procedural justice .
These film screenings should be accompanied by on-the-ground changes based on feedback from law enforcement personnel . However , considering each department ’ s and community ’ s differing needs , the practice of police-community trust building does not and cannot prescribe a one-size-fits-all solution for every local context ; instead , departments and communities are encouraged to initiate dialogue with each other to collaboratively identify their desired objectives and how to best achieve them .
For example , a commitment to police-community trust building could involve the creation of school-based partnerships and mentoring programs to build support systems for at-risk youth , an investment in community engagement training , and clearly defined opportunities for meaningful dialogue and feedback between officers and community members .
To establish organizational commitment , consider organizing a series of film screenings throughout the agency , beginning with members of command staff who can impress the importance of the film ’ s message before screenings among rank-and-file officers . The film can also be incorporated , wherever appropriate , into the curriculum delivered to new recruits at local and regional law enforcement academies .
Suggested discussion questions also depend on respective audiences ; for example , members of command staff may be better positioned to address questions about high-level departmental priorities , policies , and practices , whereas rank-and-file officers may be better positioned to identify specific public safety concerns within communities .
Discussion questions should initially focus on the basic concepts presented in the film , followed by further discussion on the application of those concepts , and conclude with questions about possible next steps the audience can take :
Overview of basic concepts
◾ What kind of challenges did the police department face in the film ? How did the department address these challenges under community-oriented policing ?
◾ What were some examples of community partnerships and relationships in the film ? In your opinion , what were the immediate and long-term benefits of these community partnerships ?
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