Inquiries Filed Under:

Policing Reform

About the inquiry

In this inquiry, students investigate police and policing reform in historical and modern contexts. Framed by the compelling questionㄧHow should we reform policing?ㄧstudents explore the form and function of policing in order to evaluate reforms and create their own reform policy proposal. First, students examine the purpose of policing, considering the role police play in communities. Next they explore the ways in which policing has changed over time. Building from their investigation into policing’s history, students assess accountability measures that “police” the police. Finally, they review research implications and data to consider whether modern policing is crime control or social control. This inquiry prepares students to write a policy proposal that proposes police reforms.

Compelling Question

How Should We Reform Policing?

Staging Question

Analyze sources related to the 2020 protests against police violence.Have a class discussion about the images and students’ current knowledge of protests in their city/region.

Supporting Question

What is the purpose of policing?

Formative Tasks

Create a mind map or Future’s Wheel that answers the supporting question.

Sources

Source A: US Department of Justice, “Policing 101” Source B:“The Role of Police in America,” Charles Koch Institute Source C: History of Policing in the United States Source D: “Cities Ask If It’s Time to Defund Police and ‘Reimagine’ Public Safety,” New York Times

Supporting Question

How has policing changed over time?

Formative Tasks

Create an annotated timeline of the history of policing in the United States.

Sources

Source A: “The History of Police in America and the First Force,” Time Source B: History of Policing in the United States Source C: The New Jim Crow Source D: “Police Militarization Fails to Protect Officers and Targets Black Communities.” PBS Newshour.

Supporting Question

What polices the police?

Formative Tasks

Write 1-2 paragraphs that describe the accountability measures and protections of the police.

Sources

Source A: US Department of Justice, “Addressing Police Misconduct Laws Enforced by the Department of Justice” Source B: Police Accountability Act, 2020 Source C: “Why Police Can Violate Your Constitutional Rights...,” Vox Media Source D: “For Cops Who Kill, Special Supreme Court Protection,” Reuters

Supporting Question

Is policing crime control or social control?

Formative Tasks

Write a claim supported by evidence that answers the supporting question; share claims in a Structured Academic Controversy.

Sources

Source A: “History of Police: How Did We Get Here?” NPR Source B: “More Cops: Is it the Answer to Fighting Crime?” USA Today Source C: “...More Spending on Police Hasn’t Necessarily Meant Less Crime,” Washington Post Source D: “Unbundle the Police,” The Atlantic Source E: “The Case for Hiring More Police Officers,” Vox Media

Summative Performance Task

Argument: Construct an argument in the form of a policy proposal, that addresses the compelling question using specific claims and relevant evidence from historical and contemporary sources while acknowledging competing views.

Extension: Participate in a Socratic Seminar about students’ perspectives on police reform.

Taking Informed Action

No data found.

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