Police Reform and Neighborhood Dynamics in the Era of Donald Trump

• In Event: Neighborhoods and Policing

Abstract

It is difficult at this early stage of the new Trump administration to know the impact its appointments and policies will have on post Ferguson police reforms. The following White House statement suggests an authoritarian turn away from the direction set forth by President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
"The Trump Administration will be a law and order administration…. The dangerous anti-police atmosphere in America is wrong. The Trump Administration will end it."
In order to evaluate the possible impact of the this change in direction on neighborhood crime control and anti police sentiment, the authors introduce the concept of neighborhood dynamics. Neighborhood dynamics are created by the mere fact that people live near each other and desire to live in a safe place. Whether residents are willing to work with the police and each other to prevent neighborhood crime is affected by the expectations they have of each other and their desire and ability to live up to these expectations. The paper explores how police behaviors may affect these dynamic processes in ways that make neighborhood places either more or less safe and hostile.

Authors

• James J. Nolan, West Virginia University

• Joshua C Hinkle, Georgia State University