Overcoming Cultural Differences in the Criminal Justice Workplace

by | Sep 6, 2023 | criminal justice

 

Staff, Co-workers, Supervisors, and Subordinates from Myriad Cultures: In the previous weeks discussions we
recognized that the United States continues to embrace immigration from myriad cultures and nationals of those
cultures continue to be the victims, witnesses, and suspects of domestic crime. This week we will focus on the
specific challenges faced in criminal justice organizations that are diversifying their ranks to meet the needs of
our society. At a growing rate, the ranks of criminal justice agencies are being filled with the most diverse group
of employees in our history as a free nation. As such, the task of effectively managing and successfully resolving
the personnel issues that arise in criminal justice agencies with new and existing personnel grows far more
complex. Previous work experiences, language barriers, expectations of supervision and management, cultural
beliefs and ideologies, may come in conflict within the normal course of business in the varied agencies. For
example, A relevant police case of religious discrimination was brought forth in the decision of Fraternal Order
of Police Newark Lodge 12 v. City of Newark (1997). In this case, the Court determined that a departmental
order banning the wearing of beards could not be enforced when the department officers of Muslim decent
claimed they were worn in respect to religious beliefs.
Select one cultural group that harbors these types of contrasting differences and belief systems that has been
created in the criminal justice workplace (NYPD Muslim Beard and Turban policy change). You may use any
news release, peer-reviewed or professional literature, case law, or an example from an organization you have
been employed or associated with for this exercise.
Through a continued literature search, develop an understanding of the cultural differences of this culture as to
how they view the domestic workplace requirements, policies, and practices as well as communications methods
to overcome these types of barriers.
Post a brief description of the issues the selected population or individual incident revealed and how law
enforcement or a criminal justice organization can work to overcome those issues.

 

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

 

Overcoming Cultural Differences in the Criminal Justice Workplace: The Case of NYPD’s Muslim Beard and Turban Policy Change
The cultural group that will be examined in this essay is the Muslim community in the context of the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) policy on beards and turbans. The case of the Fraternal Order of Police Newark Lodge 12 v. City of Newark (1997) highlighted the conflict between departmental policies and the religious beliefs of Muslim officers who wanted to wear beards as a sign of respect for their faith.

Issues Revealed
The case revealed several key issues related to cultural differences and belief systems in the criminal justice workplace:

Religious Accommodation: The case highlighted the need for religious accommodation in the workplace. The Muslim officers argued that wearing beards was an important aspect of their religious beliefs, and they should be allowed to do so without facing discrimination or punishment.

Respect for Diversity: The case underscored the importance of respecting and embracing diversity within criminal justice organizations. It revealed that policies that do not consider the cultural or religious practices of employees can lead to conflicts and allegations of discrimination.

Effective Communication: The case also demonstrated the importance of effective communication between criminal justice organizations and their employees. It revealed a lack of understanding and awareness of the religious significance of beards among department officials, which led to the implementation of a policy that violated the religious rights of Muslim officers.

Overcoming the Issues
To address these issues and create a more inclusive and culturally sensitive criminal justice workplace, law enforcement or criminal justice organizations can take several steps:

Education and Training: Organizations should provide education and training programs to enhance cultural competence among all employees. This includes raising awareness about different religious practices, beliefs, and customs, such as wearing beards as a religious obligation for Muslims. By fostering a better understanding of diverse cultures, organizations can reduce conflicts and promote inclusivity.

Religious Accommodation Policies: Criminal justice organizations should establish clear policies regarding religious accommodation. These policies should ensure that employees are given reasonable accommodations to practice their religious beliefs, as long as it does not interfere with their job responsibilities or the safety of others.

Open Dialogue: Encouraging open dialogue and communication between management and employees is crucial. Organizations should create channels for employees to express their concerns, provide feedback, and ask questions regarding cultural or religious practices. This will help foster an environment of trust and respect.

Leadership Support: Strong leadership support is essential in promoting diversity and inclusion within criminal justice organizations. Leaders should actively demonstrate their commitment to diversity by advocating for inclusive policies, addressing cultural conflicts promptly, and creating an environment where all employees are treated fairly and respectfully.

Collaboration with Community Organizations: Collaborating with community organizations that represent diverse cultures, including religious groups, can help bridge gaps and foster understanding. By building relationships and engaging in dialogue with these organizations, criminal justice agencies can gain valuable insights into cultural practices and beliefs.

In conclusion, the case of the NYPD’s Muslim Beard and Turban policy change highlights the importance of addressing cultural differences and belief systems in the criminal justice workplace. By implementing strategies such as education and training, establishing religious accommodation policies, promoting open dialogue, providing leadership support, and collaborating with community organizations, law enforcement or criminal justice organizations can create a more inclusive and culturally sensitive environment that respects the rights and beliefs of all employees.

 

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