Many racial minority communities claim profiling occurs frequently in their neighborhoods. Police authorities, for the most part, deny that they engage in racially biased police tactics. A handful of books have been published on the topic, but they tend to offer only anecdotal reports offering little reliable insight. Few use a qualitative methodological lens to provide the context of how minority citizens experience racial profiling. Racial Profiling: They Stopped Me Because I'm ---! places minority citizens who believe they have been racially profiled by police authorities at the center of the data. Using primary empirical studies and extensive, in-depth interviews, the book draws on nearly two years of field research into how minorities experience racial profiling by police authorities. The author interviewed more than 100 racial and ethnic minority citizens. Citing 87 of these cases, the book examines each individual case and employs a rigorous qualitative phenomenological method to develop dominant themes and determine their associated meaning. Through an exploration of these themes, we can learn: What racial profiling is, its historical context, and how formal legal codes and public policy generally define it The best methods of data collection and the advantages of collecting racial profiling data How certain challenges can prevent data collection from properly identifying racial profiling or bias-based policing practices Data analysis and methods of determining the validity of the data The impact of pretextual stops and the effect of Whren v. United States A compelling account of how minority citizens experience racial profiling and how they ascribe and give meaning to these experiences, the book provides a candid discussion of what the findings of the research mean for the police, racial minority citizens, and future racial profiling research. Michael L. Birzer was recently interviewed on public radio about his book, Racial Profiling: They Stopped Me Because I'm ---!

Many racial minority communities claim profiling occurs frequently in their neighborhoods. Police authorities, for the most part, deny that they engage in racially biased police tactics. A handful of books have been published on the topic, but they tend to offer only anecdotal reports offering little reliable insight. Few use a qualitative methodological lens to provide the context of how minority citizens experience racial profiling. Racial Profiling: They Stopped Me Because I'm ---! places minority citizens who believe they have been racially profiled by police authorities at the center of the data. Using primary empirical studies and extensive, in-depth interviews, the book draws on nearly two years of field research into how minorities experience racial profiling by police authorities. The author interviewed more than 100 racial and ethnic minority citizens. Citing 87 of these cases, the book examines each individual case and employs a rigorous qualitative phenomenological method to develop dominant themes and determine their associated meaning. Through an exploration of these themes, we can learn: What racial profiling is, its historical context, and how formal legal codes and public policy generally define it The best methods of data collection and the advantages of collecting racial profiling data How certain challenges can prevent data collection from properly identifying racial profiling or bias-based policing practices Data analysis and methods of determining the validity of the data The impact of pretextual stops and the effect of Whren v. United States A compelling account of how minority citizens experience racial profiling and how they ascribe and give meaning to these experiences, the book provides a candid discussion of what the findings of the research mean for the police, racial minority citizens, and future racial profiling research. Michael L. Birzer was recently interviewed on public radio about his book, Racial Profiling: They Stopped Me Because I'm ---!

Effective police organizations are run with sound leadership and management strategies that take into account the myriad of challenges that confront today's law enforcement professionals. Principles of Leadership and Management in Law Enforcement is a comprehensive and accessible textbook exploring critical issues of leadership within police agencies. Every chapter includes key concepts, definitions, chapter objectives, and review questions. Organized in logical fashion, each new chapter builds on previous material for quick assimilation. Topics include: The evolution of the modern police department Leadership approaches and management theories Organizational structure of a police department Strategic short- and long-term planning Business approaches, including Six Sigma and COMPSTAT New technology such as computer-aided dispatch, vehicle monitoring, and crime mapping Managing police stress and the work environment Recruitment and training Legislative issues impacting police, including Title VII Policing in an era of advanced homeland security Ethical issues Suitable for a one-semester course, the book's easy reading style minimizes the need for memorization and reinforces salient points through boxed highlighted areas. Written by three renowned criminal justice experts, this volume encourages readers to think expansively and develop new insights into the future direction of police leadership and management.