Cultural Diversity for the Criminal Justice Professional work 5 individual Week 5: Week Five - Individual Work Instructional Objectives for this activity: Assess the concepts of prejudice and...

Cultural Diversity for the Criminal Justice Professional work 5 individual
Week 5: Week Five - Individual Work

Instructional Objectives for this activity: Assess the concepts of prejudice and stereotyping as potential problems within the criminal justice field. Compare recent and past depictions of African Americans in films and television shows. Describe at least three of the traditional stereotypes. To what extent have we as a culture moved beyond these traditional stereotypes? To what extent have the stereotypes remained true, either in the media or in law enforcement? Your completed assignment should be one pages, double-spaced, in a 10-12 point Times Roman font

Read Chapter 5, "Law Enforcement Contact with Asian/Pacific Americans," pages 133-165.
In the Book:
Introduction:
The label Asian Americans / Pacific Islanders encompasses over 40 different ethnic and cultural groups. For ease of use, we use the shortened version Asian/ Pacific Americans to refer to members of these ethnic groupings. We first define this very diverse group and then present a historical overview, focusing on the relationship between law enforcement or other criminal Justice personnel and citizens. We present demographics and elements of diversity among Asian/ Pacific Americans as well as issues related to ethnic and cultural identity. Aspects of the Asian / Pacific American family are discussed, including myths and stereotypes, assimilation and acculturation processes, the extended family and community, gender roles, generational differences, and adolescent and youth issues.
The Section “Communication Styles of Asian/ Pacific Americans” discusses the subtle aspects of nonverbal and indirect that peace officers and others in emergency- related public safety roles often find troublesome. The closing section presents several key issues for law enforcement: underreporting of crimes, differential treatment, increasing Asian/ Pacific American community- police services, increasing the number of Asian/ Pacific peace officers, and the rise in communication and relationships between law enforcement personnel and Asian/Pacific American communities. (page 134).
Law Enforcement Interactions with Asian / Pacific Americans: Law Enforcement as Not User- Friendly:
Asian / Pacific American have found the passage and enforcement of “ANTI-Asian “ federal, state, and local laws to be more hostile and discriminatory than some of the racially motivated community incidents they have experienced. Early experience of Asians and Pacific Islanders were characterized by the majority population’s wanting to keep them out of the United States and putting tremendous barriers in the way of those who were already here. It was the role of law enforcement and criminal justice agencies and officers to be the vehicle to carry out these laws against Asian/ Pacific American immigrants. From the beginning, the interactions of Asian/Pacific Americans with law enforcement officials were fraught with conflicts, difficulties, and mixed messages.
Although many immigrant groups ( Italians, Jews, Polices) have been the target of discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice, Asian/ Pacific American, like AFRICAN American, have experienced extensive legal discrimination, hindering their ability to participate fully as American. This discrimination has gravely affected their well- being and quality of life. Some states had laws the prohibited intermarriage between Asians and whites. State and local laws imposed restrictive conditions and taxes specifically on Asians business and individuals. State courts were equally biased; for example, in the case of People v. Hall, heard in the California Supreme Court in 1854, testimony provided by one white and three Chinse witnesses. The California Supreme Court threw out Hall’s conviction on the basis that state law prohibited blacks, mulattos, of Indians from testifying in favor of or against whites in court. The court’s decision read (p.142)
Myths and Stereotypes:
Knowledge of and sensitivity to Asian/Pacific Americans’ diversity, historical background, and life experiences will facilitate the crime-fighting and peacekeeping missions of peace officers. It is important to have an understanding about some of the myths, environ-peace officers. It is important to have an understanding about some of the myths, environmental messages, and stereotypes of Asian/ Pacific Americans that contribute to the prejudice, discrimination, and bias they encounter. Many American do not have much experience with the diversity of Asian/ Pacific American groups and learn about these groups only through stereotypes, often perpetuated by movies and the media. The effect of myths and stereotypes is to reduce Asian/ Pacific Americans to simplistic, one dimensional characters whom many people lump into one stereotypic group. Often, the complexities of the diverse Asian/ Pacific American groups in terms of language, history, customs, cultures, religions, and life experiences become confusing and threatening, and it is easier to deal with stereotypes of these groups. Nonetheless, it is important for law enforcement officers to be aware of the different stereotypes of Asian/ Pacific Americans. The key to effectiveness with any ethnic or racial group is not the complete elimination of myths and stereotypes about the group, but rather the awareness of these stereotypes and management of one’s behaviors when the stereotypes are not true of the person with whom one is dealing.

Some of the stereotypes that have affected Asian/ Pacific Americans in law enforcement include the following:

1. Viewing Asian/Pacific Americans as “all alike.” That is, because there are many similar- ities in names, physical features, and behaviors, many law enforcement officers many make comments about their inability to tell people apart, or they may deal with them in stereotypic groups fashion ( they, are all “ inscrutable, involved in gangs.


2. Viewing Asian/ Pacific Americans as successful “model minorities” or as a “super minority. Some hold the stereotype that Asian/ Pacific American are all successful, and minority.” some hold the stereotype that Asian/ Pacific American are all successful, and this stereotype is further reinforced by the media (Kawai, 2005). Such stereotypes have resulted in intergroup hostilities and hate crimes directed toward Asian/ Pacific Americans and have served to mask true differences and diversity among the various Asian and Pacific.


3. Viewing some Asian/ Pacific American as possible “foreign” terrorists because of their religious affiliation and cultural dress. Many Asian/ Pacific Americans immigrate from countries with very large populations that practice Islam (Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and China),and the majority of these Muslims are from the more moderate wing of Sunni Islam ( not from the more fundamentalist branch). However, it is highly possible for the unfamiliar to group Asian/Pacific American who Muslims into a collective group associated with fundamentalism and terrorism. Moreover, for many immigrant who may stay close to their cultural traditions and cultural dress ( Sikhs who wear turbans and have beards to misidentify cultural dress and nuances and come to stereotypic conclusions about who might be a “foreign” terrorist. Two examples: (1) one of the first suspects detained for questioning on Sep 11,2002 (as seen on the national television news) was a Sikh who was wearing a turban and was misidentified as an Afghanistan Taliban ( who also wear a head covering that is called a turban), and (2) South Asians ( Bengalis) with darker skin tones in the Midwest were often misidentified as Arabs AND WERE DETAINED FOR QUESTIONING ON HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUES.

FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, MANY HATE CRIMES AGAIST Asian/ Pacific Americans are related to the stereotyping of the group as foreigners and not as Americans.

1. Misunderstanding Asian/ Pacific cultural differences and practices and viewing differences stereotypically as a threat to other Americans. The more than 40 Asian/ Pacific American groups encompass great differences in life experiences, languages, backgrounds, and culture. It is easy to make mistakes and draw incorrect conclusions because of such draw conclusions based on our own filtering system, stereotypes, and assumptions. Most of the time, these incorrect assumptions and stereotypes are corrected by favorable contact and actual interpersonal relationship with Asian/Pacific American people. From a law and actual interpersonal relationships with Asian/Pacific American cultural differences as perceived threats to themselves. Stereotypic and racially biased views of ASIAN /Pacific Americans as threats require the ongoing attention of law enforcement agencies. (Page 150).

Reference:

Multicultural law enforcement: Strategies for peacekeeping in a diverse society. 5^th
edition.
New Jersey: Pearson. Shusta, R. M. Levine, D.R., (2010.