According to a report by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community-oriented Policing Services (2014),
“This more intensive use of stop and frisk has prompted questions and extensive debate about its
legality and its effects on individuals and minority communities. The limited research conducted thus far
indicates that while these more concentrated stop and frisk interventions have the potential to reduce
crime, they may also negatively impact police-community relations and harm the legitimacy and efficacy
of policing efforts. Given these findings and the heated public debate surrounding stop and frisk, today’s
police executives must think critically about how the acts of stopping, questioning, frisking, and
searching can best be used to achieve crime-control goals in a manner that minimizes their negative
effects” (p. 2).
For this assignment, you will write a 750-1000 word paper critically analyzing the use of stop and frisk as
a policing tactic.
For the paper, you should make a persuasive argument about whether or not stop and frisk should
continue as a policing tactic. Keep in mind that persuasive argument means an argument wellsupported with data and research (not just a personal opinion). The essay should address the
following points:
• How to balance crime prevention and community relations
• Police use of discretion
• Crime control v. Due process
• Racial disparities in policing
• The standard of reasonable suspicion
• If you support stop and frisk, what guidelines can be used to improve its use?
• If you do not support it, what alternatives are available to substitute and why are they
advantageous?
