Multicultural Law Enforcement : Strategies for Peacekeeping in a Diverse Society (3rd Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Realistic
Review: Multicultural Law Enforcement by Robert Shusta, et al, provides a realistic and factually-based appraisal of the many social dimensions that today's police officers need to keep in mind when enforcing the law.
Those who see this book as biased are unfairly reacting to the author's discussion of realistic scenarios, and are probably seeking to avoid serious consideration of situations that make them uncomfortable. Rather than denying the potential for bias in police work, this book meets such issues head-on, bringing to awareness the need to deal with complicated social issues in today's multicultural world.

Rating:
Summary: Balanced and Necessary
Review: This book is an important contribution to policing at multiple levels. It discusses ethnic and minority groups in a respectful manner, attempting to avoid stereotypes. It provides the police officer with insight into and strategies for policing a multicultural society. At no point does it even slightly suggest that law enforcement should use culture or race as an excuse to not enforce the law. The introductory chapter provides a framework for understanding the phenomenon of immigration in the U.S., and connects 21st century demographics to the need for the book itself. The authors provide useful information on topics such as community policing, racial profiling, and hate crimes. It is absolutely ridiculous to refer to this book as apologetic or soft on crime. If police officers are not ready for this book, then they should get out of policing. This book is one of the best that I have seen for law enforcement professionals related to the multicultural society.

Rating:
Summary: Terrible and Bias
Review: This book is terrible. It lumps all caucasions into the category of "Europeans". It doesn't take into consideration today's influx of former Soviet Union citizens into the U.S. and implies it is easier for 'Europeans' to succeed in America because of their skin color. They also discredit (in semantical terms) the term 'melting pot' since it doesn't occur in the first generation of immigrants. However, they later admit it does occur in 2nd and 3rd generations. In one chapter, the authors state that by educating the officer about various cultures, the officer will use this information in determining whether or not to arrest the subject. How absurd when you consider that in today's era of lawsuits and ever increasing liability, less discreion is being left to the officer and arrests are becoming mandatory; regardless of the person's skin color (i.e. domestic violence). Very bias when it comes to such a touchy subject to begin with. Does not help when attempting to educate law enforcement personnel.