PHIL 347 Week 7 Course Project: Argumentative Paper

Name

Chamberlain University

PHIL-347: Critical Reasoning

Prof. Name

Date

Title: Should the Police Be Defunded?

In recent years, public awareness and discourse surrounding issues like gender, career pathways, wealth inequality, race, and human rights have become more prominent. Society no longer takes government policies and social norms at face value; instead, individuals increasingly seek education and stand up for their rights. A pivotal moment in this awakening occurred with the tragic death of George Floyd, an African American man. Accused of a minor offense, Floyd was detained, handcuffed, and held on the ground by police officers, one of whom kneeled on his neck despite Floyd’s pleas that he couldn’t breathe. This incident resulted in Floyd’s death and ignited a surge of Black Lives Matter protests, with “I can’t breathe” becoming a rallying cry. Floyd’s case highlighted long-standing issues of racial discrimination and mistreatment by law enforcement toward people of color, leading to widespread calls for police defunding. This paper will examine the contentious debate around defunding the police and argue against it due to the potential for increased crime, limited impact on racial injustice, and economic implications for local governments.

Advantages of Defunding the Police

Advocates for police defunding argue that reducing police budgets would curtail abuses of power, particularly against marginalized communities. The criminal justice system has a history of disproportionately incarcerating Black individuals, with one in three Black men expected to face incarceration in their lifetimes, compared to one in six Latino men and one in seventeen White men (Hinton et al., 2018). Black women are also significantly affected, with one in eighteen expected to face incarceration, compared to one in one hundred eleven White women (Hinton et al., 2018). Studies show that racial injustice in law enforcement stems partly from systemic racism and a lack of diversity within the police force (DeAngelis, 2021). For example, the Mapping Police Violence Database reveals that Black people are statistically less likely to be armed during police encounters, yet they face disproportionately high fatality rates (DeAngelis, 2021). Another argument for defunding is that resources currently allocated to police could be redirected to community development efforts, such as mental health services, education, and affordable housing (The Economist Newspaper, 2020).

Disadvantages of Defunding the Police

Opponents of defunding argue that it would increase crime rates, as police presence serves as a deterrent to criminal activity. Lum et al. (2021) found that approximately 17% of calls to the police are for non-violent crimes, suggesting that police play a crucial role in maintaining public order. The complete removal or reduction of police funding could compromise community safety, particularly in high-crime areas. Furthermore, defunding does not address the root causes of racial injustice within law enforcement. Racial discrimination is a complex psychological issue tied to factors such as social hierarchy, power structures, and media influence, as outlined by Roberts & Rizzo (2021). While reallocating police funding may limit officers’ on-duty actions, it does not address underlying prejudices that contribute to racism. Lastly, the economic consequences of defunding should be considered. Since the 2007–2009 financial crisis, local governments have relied on fines and fees collected by law enforcement to fund community projects (The Economist Newspaper, 2020). Reducing police funding would impact local government revenue and potentially hinder public services.

Conclusion

The decision to defund or maintain police funding requires a balanced consideration of the pros and cons. This paper concludes that police should not be defunded, as the potential for increased crime, minimal impact on racial justice, and negative economic consequences outweigh the advantages. The complex issues surrounding law enforcement reform demand more than budget cuts; instead, systemic solutions that address the psychological and social roots of racial injustice are needed.

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-racial-disparities.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

PHIL 347 Week 7 Course Project: Argumentative Paper

Roberts, S., & Rizzo, S. (2021). The Psychology of American Psychology. American Psychological Association. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-45459-001

The Economist Newspaper. (2020). Cutting American police budgets might have perverse effects: Defunding the police. The Economist (Online). https://www-proquest-com.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/docview/2421186570