How Aiding the Homeless Can Also Demonstrate Transparency

Homelessness is a social issue affecting the country; however, Los Angeles has been recognized by the federal government as among the counties with the highest rate of homelessness, which is caused by the high cost of living and housing. Nonetheless, the police are required to maintain social order; thereby, homeless people are expected to be handled appropriately to reduce public upheaval. For example, in the case of individual homeless drinking in public, they should be arrested for public intoxication. However, the issue of public distrust arises when the homeless are arrested and later released. The issue of public trust in handling homeless individuals can be addressed by implementing a new strategy, such as the provision of standard amenities and participation in community work. By offering a proactive solution to the problem rather than reacting, the public issue can be redressed. When handling homeless individuals, it is essential to be discrete as the studies have identified that most homeless individuals have mental disorders. Discretion should be applied more judiciously when assessing the problem between homeless individuals and the public. The objective is to attain long-term solutions to the issue at hand (Dempsey, Forst, & Carter, 2018). Adherence to procedural fairness values has the potential to have the most significant impact on homeless individuals' perceptions. Currently, how they are handled demonstrates high levels of bias due to their socio-economic positions. However, by addressing their problems as social issues, the LAPD can influence how the public views homelessness and the individuals affected. Police transparency refers to the principles of honesty and openness, as identified in the code of ethics. Nevertheless, by openly working with social organizations and agencies that handle homeless people, the police can bolster public support as their actions are honest. Additionally, transparency can also be demonstrated by the results of aiding the homeless. Police accountability is an essential aspect of community policing (Dempsey, Forst, & Carter, 2018). Additionally, it also plays a role in public interests as the people have impartial views while ensuring the department adheres to disciplinary actions. The overall outcome is improved public trust in the police department; the public assumes high standards for the police (Dempsey, Forst, & Carter, 2018). It is the responsibility of the law enforcement agency to meet the expectations. Police transparency is an essential part of public trust necessary for law and order to be sustained (Dempsey, Forst, & Carter, 2018). With more people losing their trust in the police and their effectiveness in maintaining social order, various technologies have been implemented to aid the problem. Among them is the use of body cameras and police mobile computers. They allow the police to attain accurate data on homeless individuals, whereas the body cameras record how they handle them. If work ethics are maintained and demonstrated to the public, support will increase, thereby bolstering public trust. As per the scenario, the best approach would be as mentioned previously, where the police and social agencies handling homeless individuals agree on a strategy on aiding the affected individuals. The approach would both strengthen public relations while offering support to the objective. The principles of community policing include strategic, tactics, philosophy, and organization. The principles incorporate community ideals in the policing process within the organization resulting in strategic and tactical solutions. It is valuable as the police require the publics' corporation to attain and sustain public order. By working with the public, the police can take advantage of community policing to identify solutions to the social issue of homelessness in Los Angeles. The professional practice of policing by the LAPD when handling homelessness has changed from a reactive process to a proactive effort. By helping the homes attain shelter and food, the police can negate the public’s negative view of the homeless. It is eassential as the country faces the worst pandemic in modern times, which has resulted in numerous economic woes. Initially, the LAPD would arrest the homeless individuals; however, considering their crime was a misdemeanor, they would spend a few days in jail before being released. The strategy applied can be described as an intervention even though the results are not modified.

Reference

Dempsey, J., Forst, L., & Carter, S. (2018). An introduction to policing (9th ed.). Cengage learning.