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Future of Law Enforcement

Author: Sophia
PDF Version

what's covered
In this lesson, you will learn about the future of law enforcement. Specifically, this lesson will cover:

Table of Contents

1. Future of Law Enforcement

Throughout this course, we have been discussing the ongoing debate between the crime control model and the due process model of law enforcement. Remember that each model prioritizes different values:

Crime control model
Focuses on efficiency and public safety

Due process model
Stresses individual rights and fairness

These competing models represent a tension that is central to the U.S. criminal justice system, and their influence can lead to dramatically different outcomes. Looking ahead, the balance between crime control and due process will help shape the future of law enforcement. Let’s take a look at future outcomes. We’ll explore what might happen with more focus on the crime control model, with more focus on the due process model, or with a combination of the two models.

2. Future Outcomes of the Crime Control Model

If the U.S. shifts toward the crime control model in the future, there are several potential outcomes and implications for law enforcement, public safety, and individual rights. A shift towards the crime control model would increase:

  • Efficiency in law enforcement
  • The use of surveillance
  • Efficiency in processing criminal cases
Law enforcement agencies may adopt more streamlined procedures for investigating and charging suspects, leading to faster resolution of cases (Raber, 2024).

EXAMPLE

Technologies such as facial recognition and artificial intelligence (AI) could also enhance the ability of police to identify and apprehend suspects more quickly (Epstein & Emerson, 2024).

did you know
Law enforcement agencies in cities like Chicago and Detroit already use facial recognition systems in public spaces to identify suspects in crimes, like after a theft or violent incident. Police analyze footage from surveillance cameras to match a suspect's face with known records.

An advantage of this approach would be faster case resolutions and more efficient policing, to reduce backlogs in the courts and improve public safety by ensuring that people are apprehended and convicted quickly. In high-crime areas, this could lead to reductions in crime because police would focus on identifying people who break the law (Navigating Legal Safeguards, 2022). However, this approach could come at the expense of individual rights. Streamlined processes may limit peoples' ability to challenge evidence or seek amends for police misconduct. This could result in an increase in wrongful convictions and the further marginalization of people already facing biases.

A future focusing on the crime control model would likely lead to expanded surveillance capabilities and enhanced law enforcement powers.

EXAMPLE

Technologies such as drones, license plate readers, and biometric data collection could allow police to monitor citizens more closely (Davies, 2021).

think about it
What are the drawbacks or dangers of increased surveillance technologies, such as facial recognition or predictive policing?

A benefit of this approach is that expanded surveillance can deter crime and make it easier for law enforcement to detect and prevent crime before it occurs.

EXAMPLE

Predictive policing models can allocate resources more effectively by identifying areas and people likely to be involved in crime (Predictive Policing Forecasting Crime for Law Enforcement, n.d.).

However, increased surveillance raises privacy concerns. The expansion of these technologies without adequate oversight could result in abuses of authority, including racial profiling and illegal searches. Additionally, such technologies often disproportionately affect minority and low-income communities, exacerbating social inequalities in law enforcement (Lee & Chin, 2022).

3. Future Outcomes of the Due Process Model

A future that prioritizes the due process model would strengthen individuals’ legal protections and accountability in policing. The due process model advocates for stronger legal protections to ensure that people are not wrongfully convicted or subjected to unfair treatment. With an emphasis on this model, we may see:

  • Stronger safeguards for defendants
  • Greater oversight of police conduct
  • Stricter requirements for evidence collection (Pickett & Ryon, 2017)
An advantage of this approach would be increased oversight of police conduct, particularly in areas such as stop-and-frisk practices, which could reduce incidents of racial profiling and police abuse (Abrams, 2020). However, critics of this approach argue that too much emphasis on legal protections can slow down the justice process and make it harder for law enforcement to fight crime effectively. More procedural steps in investigations could increase the time needed to resolve cases.

A due process-oriented future would likely prioritize holding law enforcement accountable for misconduct, with greater oversight of police actions and stronger protections for individuals’ rights (Raffish, 2021). Measures such as civilian review boards and body camera mandates may become more widespread.

did you know
In response to high-profile cases of police misconduct, the city of Denver has implemented a civilian oversight board with the power to investigate complaints and recommend policy changes. Complaints can be made to the Citizen Oversight Board (COB), the Office of the Independent Monitor (OIM), or directly to the departments’ internal investigative offices.

A benefit of increased accountability is that it ensures the police are held responsible for misconduct, such as excessive use of force or violations of constitutional rights. Civilian oversight can help restore public trust in the police, particularly in communities that have experienced discriminatory practices. However, some law enforcement agencies may resist increased oversight, arguing that it undermines their authority and makes it more difficult to do their jobs (Dungca & Abelson, 2021).

4. A Balanced Approach in the Future

The future of law enforcement and criminal justice will likely involve a continued tension between the crime control and due process models. While both approaches have value, the goal is to find a balance that protects public safety without sacrificing individual rights.

Policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and communities need to engage in conversations to strike this balance and ensure that the criminal justice system remains both effective and fair. As law enforcement agencies adopt new technologies, such as predictive policing, AI, and surveillance tools, they will need to ensure that these innovations align with both crime control and due process values. While technology can enhance crime fighting capabilities, law enforcement agencies must use that technology in ways that respect privacy, avoid bias, and uphold constitutional rights (Laufs & Borrion, 2022).

big idea
Moving forward, both models can benefit from greater engagement with the communities most affected by law enforcement practices. Building trust between police and the public is essential for both crime control and due process, as cooperation and accountability are necessary in the criminal justice system.

summary
In this lesson, you learned about the future of policing. The future of law enforcement will likely be shaped by the ongoing tension between the crime control model, which emphasizes efficiency and public safety, and the due process model, which prioritizes individual rights and fairness. A future that leans towards the crime control model could see increased use of technologies such as facial recognition and AI to streamline law enforcement processes, resulting in faster case resolutions and reduced crime rates in high-crime areas. However, this approach might come at the expense of individual rights, potentially leading to wrongful convictions and the marginalization of vulnerable populations due to reduced opportunities to challenge evidence or police misconduct.

On the other hand, a future focused on the due process model would emphasize stronger legal protections and greater accountability in policing, including measures like civilian oversight and stricter evidence collection procedures. This could help reduce police misconduct and racial profiling but may also slow down the justice process, making combating crime effectively more difficult. The ideal future for law enforcement requires a balanced approach, incorporating elements from both models to maintain public safety while safeguarding individual rights, particularly as new technologies continue to emerge in policing. In the next lesson, we will move away from looking at policing and will move into our discussions on the courts. We will start by learning about the federal and state court systems.

Source: THIS TUTORIAL WAS AUTHORED BY SOPHIA LEARNING. PLEASE SEE OUR TERMS OF USEb

REFERENCES

Abrams, Z. (2020, October 1). What Works to Reduce Police Brutality. Apa.org; American Psychological Association. www.apa.org/monitor/2020/10/cover-police-brutality

Davies, D. (2021, January 27). Surveillance And Local Police: How Technology Is Evolving Faster Than Regulation. NPR.org. www.npr.org/2021/01/27/961103187/surveillance-and-local-police-how-technology-is-evolving-faster-than-regulation

Dungca, N., & Abelson, J. (2021, April 27). When communities try to hold police accountable, law enforcement fights back. Washington Post.www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2021/civilian-oversight-police-accountability/

Epstein, B., & Emerson, J. (2024). Policechiefmagazine.org. www.policechiefmagazine.org/navigating-future-ai-chatgpt/

Laufs, J., & Borrion, H. (2022). Technological innovation in policing and crime prevention: Practitioner perspectives from London. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 24(2), 190-209. doi.org/10.1177/14613557211064053

Lee, N. T., & Chin, C. (2022, April 12). Police Surveillance and Facial recognition: Why Data Privacy Is Imperative for Communities of Color. Brookings. www.brookings.edu/articles/police-surveillance-and-facial-recognition-why-data-privacy-is-an-imperative-for-communities-of-color

Navigating Legal Safeguards: The Crime Control Model Unveiled. (2022). attorneys.media/glossary/crime-control-model/

Pickett, J. T., & Ryon, S. B. (2017). Procedurally just cooperation: Explaining support for due process reforms in policing. Journal of Criminal Justice, 48, 9-20. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2016.11.002

Predictive Policing Forecasting Crime for Law Enforcement. (n.d.). www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_briefs/RB9700/RB9735/RAND_RB9735.pdf

Raber, T. (2024, April 8). The Crime Control and Due Process Models. Workforce LibreTexts. workforce.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Corrections/Criminal_Court_Processes_and_Procedures_(Raber)/01%3A

Raffish, B. (2021, February 17). Civilian Oversight as a Police Accountability Mechanism. Default. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/civilian-oversight-police-accountability-mechanism

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