Handcuffed: What Holds Policing Back, and the Keys to Reform
Malcolm K. Sparrow
Brookings Institution Press, Washington, D.C., 2016
It is hardly news that America’s police forces are struggling with their mission. The recent spate of high-profile police killings and resulting riots have raised serious concerns about institutional racism – leading to the formation of the Black Lives Matter movement – a situation exacerbated by the ongoing war on drugs and the increasing militarization of U.S. police forces since 9/11. [1]
When it comes to the problems of U.S. police departments, Malcolm Sparrow’s unique background lends particular credibility to his views. A mathematician, former police officer, and professor in public management at the Harvard Kennedy School, he has the practical, analytical, and strategic insights needed to effectively guide police in their community and problem-solving work – if only he could find a receptive audience.
Handcuffed – in a nutshell – is a lucid, compelling plea by the author for U.S. police to re-dedicate themselves to their core work of harm reduction, through community and problem-oriented policing.
Continue reading “Handcuffed: What Holds Policing Back, and the Keys to Reform: Book Review”
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