SOC 507 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Racialization, Conflict Theories, Labeling Theory

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 507
• Professor: Cheryl Teelucksingh

Document Summary

Carding: when police approach one notably, kids in public space and ask for their identification. Issues: investigation into racial profiling and police arrest records. There is a specific value system in policing that transcends the beliefs of individual officers. Historically, policing is derived from a pre-military culture ranks and how police present themselves in social conflict. At the collective level, ideologies about race are embedded in routine police practices. Racism is often unintentional, but reinforces stereotypes about racial minorities. Tends to separate police officers from the broader society as a means to maintain authority. Encourages suspicion of their surroundings because of threats of danger. Police discretion: the amount of leeway a police officer has the scene of arrest and at the police station. In most cases, police must act quickly and rely on external clues to guide actions. Two edged sword of police decision making: Police need latitude in decision making because of the magnitude of responsibility.