Politics & Policy
Why the World Needs Fewer Cops
By Charles Kenny December 01, 2014
Photograph by Scott Olson/Getty Images
The tragedy in Ferguson, Mo., highlights how predatory policing has reduced trust in law enforcement in many parts of the U.S. Court fines (mostly connected with traffic violations) are worth 20 percent of Ferguson’s general-fund revenue. That’s considerably more than property tax revenue and about two-thirds sales tax revenue. The police force accounts for 41 percent of the city’s expenses, suggesting fines are worth about one-half of the police budget. The incentives that such a system created to fine people overzealously were one factor behind the dismal state of relations between locals and cops in the city even before the death of Michael Brown.
The above is excerpted from Bloomberg Business week. The entire article may be read here: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-12-01/why-the-world-needs-fewer-cops#r=rss
Note this is an issue apart from the Michael Brown issue.
Why the World Needs Fewer Cops
By Charles Kenny December 01, 2014
Photograph by Scott Olson/Getty Images
The tragedy in Ferguson, Mo., highlights how predatory policing has reduced trust in law enforcement in many parts of the U.S. Court fines (mostly connected with traffic violations) are worth 20 percent of Ferguson’s general-fund revenue. That’s considerably more than property tax revenue and about two-thirds sales tax revenue. The police force accounts for 41 percent of the city’s expenses, suggesting fines are worth about one-half of the police budget. The incentives that such a system created to fine people overzealously were one factor behind the dismal state of relations between locals and cops in the city even before the death of Michael Brown.
The above is excerpted from Bloomberg Business week. The entire article may be read here: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-12-01/why-the-world-needs-fewer-cops#r=rss
Note this is an issue apart from the Michael Brown issue.
