Over recent years, a lot of criticism about police killings and brutal handling of suspects in the United States have surfaced. The major issue of concern resulting from these cases is that most of the victims seem to be emerging from a certain racial group, that is, the African American (Blau, 2015). Notably, a lot of peaceful demonstrations have been conducted out across major cities of the country with the objective of bringing to the fore, the discriminative acts by the police force that targets the African-American population as the likely offenders of the law (Guo, 2015). In order to establish the actual case regarding the conduct of the police as far as matters of racial profiling are concerned, this research will, therefore, seek to look into the various cases and determine the reality of the matter. In particular, the paper will focus on the past police events and questionable cases that have been witnessed in the states of Atlanta and Chicago over the recent years. The hypothesis of the research will be ‘The American Police using discriminatory legal measures against the African-American Community’. From the above hypotheses arises the research question’ Is there Racial Profiling among the American Police?’
In order to get a good glimpse of the research objectives, the study will highlight various existing scholarly works recently written concerning acts of police brutality. Notably, the literature review will encompass evaluation of approved works that outlines how police should behave in certain situations and circumstances, in order to impact us with a proper definition of what is actually meant by the term excessive police force. Similarly, the literature review will look at the various acts of police on individuals that have raised eyebrows among the public in the states of Atlanta and Chicago. To provide a deeper insight into instances of racial profiling, the statistical figures of those affected by the police incidences will be evaluated to establish the kind of race that is often affected.
The design of the research will be quantitative in nature as it seeks to determine the number of people who have been affected by incidences of racial profiling by the police. Similarly, the research will be qualitative in nature as it will also focus on determining the views of the people in regards to the various cases that have been highlighted. As the researcher, I will visit the various homes of the victims of racial profiling by the police. Similarly, I will visit the relevant organizations that are mandated to gauge the conduct of the police, both government and non-governmental in order to get adequate information on the topic. Notably, the human rights organizations will be a better site where I can be able to get correct figures about the type of race that was affected by each incidence of police brutality.
The research will incorporate the use of a number of research methodology techniques to gather data regarding the topic from the field. Questionnaires will be distributed to the participants in order to get their views on the various instances of police encounter they went through. Likewise, as the researcher, I will engage the participants in recorded interviews in order to get a clear perspective on the topic. Both methodologies will involve questions revolving around the topic of research. For example, the participants will be required to explain their ordeal at the hands of the police, whether they have lost a loved one due to police brutality, whether they reported the matter and the steps that were taken to follow up the issue.
Consequently, the use of secondary sources of data will be influential in determining the approximate figure of those affected by police brutality. The research will look into existing information regarding the number of police incidences that sparked major outbursts from the public within the states of Atlanta and Chicago. In order to stick to the topic of research, the figures from these sources will be evaluated to determine the actual number of victims with consideration to their race. These figures will then be recorded by way of note-taking.
It is quite commendable that researchers be able to adhere to the accepted code of conduct when carrying out studies in order to maintain the credibility and validity of his /her work. In light of the above requirement, the paper will, therefore, ensure that every action that the research team takes is properly evaluated before being implemented to ensure that no ethical practices have been violated. For instance, the research team will seek permission of the various organizations that will be deemed suitable for gathering the kind of information on the topic. These sites include the civil society groups, governmental bodies such as the police departments, homes of the participants and the various places that might have some form of secondary data on the topic, for example, the libraries. Similarly, I will enlighten them on the entire objective of the study in order for them not to feel coerced into the research. Likewise, the potential participants to the studies who will not be willing to engage in the research citing personal reasons will not be forced to do so. Again, as the researcher, I will not force people to answer particular questions which they may be uncomfortable for them.
After gathering data by the use of the various methodologies, the research team will take them to the lab which offers a conducive environment for their analysis. Data from the various organizations will be compiled into one in order to establish the actual number of cases that have been reported regarding police misconduct in Atlanta and Chicago. The compiled data will then be narrowed down by categorizing the victims according to their racial origin for the purpose of finding out the race that is predominantly affected by such actions. Similarly, data from the interviews and questionnaires will also be analyzed to determine the kind of pattern that exists in the number of those affected by police brutality.
The analysis of the data will, therefore, pave way for the research team to establish the kind of findings we will gather about the topic of racial profiling among the American police. The findings will give a clear picture of the race mostly affected by acts of police discrimination if there is any, by highlighting the statistical figures and that were collected from the field. Similarly, analyzed data stemming from the questionnaires and interviews will be able to impart the research team as to what are the views of the public in regards to the cases that have been referred to by the research. The number of African-Americans compared to people of the white race who have been affected by acts of police brutality leading to injuries and even death, as well as the opinions of the public and the relevant people within the field of police force, will thus enable the research team to answer their research question which seeks to find out whether there are instances of racial profiling in the American police.
References
Blau, M. (2015). Unarmed black man shot dead by police in Atlanta: witnesses question excessive force. The Guardian. Retrieved 21 April 2018, from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/26/unarmed-black-man-atlanta-police-shooting
Guo, J. (2015). Police are searching black drivers more often, but finding more illegal stuff with white drivers. Washington Post. Retrieved 21 April 2018, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/10/27/police-are-searching-black-drivers-more-often-but-finding-more-illegal-stuff-with-white-drivers-2/?utm_term=.4c3a5c5c2003
