Policing scholars typically agree that a diverse police force is better suited to deliver service to the community. But is this true? To hire police officers based on race, ethnicity, religious affiliation or sex leaves out an important dimension–suitability. Is a person more suitable based on these attributes than someone without these attributes? How about the opposite: not hiring someone based on these attributes, should that be allowed if too many one one group is already represented?
It seems to defy logic that one person is better suited for police work than another based on these qualities alone and without knowledge about their ability to perform–regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or sex.
For this discussion:
- Is a diverse police force better at delivering police services than one that lacks diversity?
- What is the ideal level of diversity (in terms of percentages)?
- Should race, ethnicity, religious affiliation and sex be used to determine police hiring?
Sample Solution
