Abstract
The increased use of police violence and the threat thereof has become a widely publicized issue. Particularly, the use of violence against minorities, especially Black individuals, is becoming more widely criticized by the public, scholars, and activists. This identification of policing violence relates to the militarization of policing, wherein the adoption of military equipment and tactics have contributed to increased violent targeting of minority communities. Policing agencies have increasingly turned these military weapons against civilians to maintain social control. Namely, militarism in policing has historical roots in violent racialized policing targeting Black communities. The current analysis critically examines the development of militarized policing, and its historical connections to other violent, racialized policing organizations and tactics. In the future, actions should be taken to examine policing under a critical lens. Conversations have begun to refurbish military equipment, hold policing agencies accountable through accurate mandated reporting, and divesting from policing to social programs to encourage social and financial development, diverging from punitive measures.
Recommended Citation
Simpson, Grace
(2024)
"The Militarization of Policing in the United States,"
The Mid-Southern Journal of Criminal Justice: Vol. 23, Article 3.
Available at:
https://mds.marshall.edu/msjcj/vol23/iss1/3