Why Diversity In Law Enforcement Is Important?

Diversity in law enforcement is a concept entangled with political interpretations and sensationalist media, but just because a question or concept is difficult does not mean it isn’t worth exploring.

Today, we’ll be looking at diversity in law enforcement and why it is so vital to the proper prevention of crime and keeping people safe.

Why Diversity In Law Enforcement Is Important?

Better Communication

Communication is vital for effective law enforcement and crime prevention. Law enforcement officers are there to serve the community and their jobs are made that much harder if that cannot communicate effectively.

Addressing this can be as simple as teaching officers some of the major non-English languages spoken in the U.S, such as Spanish or Chinese. However, one of the benefits of having diversity in the force and of diversity training is that officers are able to communicate with cultural nuance.

As an example, some cultures have different attitudes to personal space. In a tense situation, understanding the difference between aggression and a different attitude to personal space can be hugely important.

Earning the Public’s Trust

Just as with proper communication, earning the trust of the public is paramount to effective law enforcement. 

An understanding of the nuance of other cultures, the perception that law enforcement officers share, or at least understand some of the same experiences as those from other cultures, and the understanding that other cultures and races are welcome in law enforcement are paramount to building public trust.

Changing Negative Perceptions  

For some communities, the attitudes towards law enforcement can be overwhelmingly negative. They are often seen as outsiders or as a threat, rather than serving the community at large. 

Part of this negative perception can be changed through further diversifying law enforcement because having representatives of a certain community or culture within law enforcement helps to prevent communities from identifying them as outsiders.

Additionally, having members of a wider range of communities within law enforcement normalizes the behaviors and attitudes of those communities with the wider law enforcement spectrum, allowing officers from across the U.S to reach a greater understanding of the people they protect.

Diversity in law enforcement is just one of the important issues that you’ll study as part of your time in our Criminal Justice program here at Northwest Career College.

Qualifying For Your Future

Gaining a qualification from our Criminal Justice School puts you in an excellent position to access a variety of employment opportunities as you look for one that suits your skills and interests. At Northwest Career College, our Criminal Justice instructors include licensed, practicing attorneys and degree instructors able to teach, not only the law but also to guide our students in the many ways a criminal justice graduate integrates into a Las Vegas legal profession.

As part of our Criminal Justice Program, you’ll visit courts, jails, meditation centers and more to experience first-hand the law in action which will make your criminal justice training applicable to the Las Vegas legal system. Northwest offers a flexible blended program with all criminal justice classes Las Vegas law classes taught on campus by an attorney and general education courses offered online. Our experienced instructors are on-campus to review and support your learning experience at all times. 

Call us at (702) 403-1592 to speak to one of our enrollment team about joining our Criminal Justice Program today!