7.1 What Makes Something an “Issue”?

How do we know when something is “broken”? Can something be revived, maybe even made stronger and more purposeful, with modifications? And, do we ever listen to the opinions of others and align with their viewpoint, only to find later that there were flaws in their thinking, biases at work, or an error in their perception of a situation?

Professionals in policing have considered the above questions, which may lead them to counter with questions of their own. How do we prioritize what needs attention first? If we make changes to one facet of police response, how are people in the community impacted? Are the members of the criminal justice workforce–police, specifically– adversely challenged? Do even minor changes to a criminal justice policy or process throw the whole work of police officers out of balance? Do the costs of reconfiguration of the system to make needed change create a burden that society is prepared and able to afford? Are proposed changes to criminal justice policy, procedures or protocol, consistent with case precedents established by the courts in the rendering of past decisions?

The reader is encouraged to listen carefully and thoughtfully to what others say regarding their knowledge or experiences with the issues in the criminal legal system. It is wise to suspend the urge to rush to immediate judgment when listening to others, and, if we disagree, one should approach a rebuttal discussion with civility in mind. When discussing such issues, it is important to listen to all sides, including one’s own. It is similar to the work of a police officer to investigate all avenues and points of view of a situation before making decisions. In this way, well-informed decisions can be made. Our experiences may be similar or diametrically opposed, again for a host of reasons. Finally, we should also be willing to recognize and accept that some issues may be difficult, and perhaps impossible, to resolve in our lifetime, for reasons that may be out of our control.

Perhaps the best advice to be given when reading this chapter, as well as in conducting our lives, is to listen carefully to what the perceived issue is, sort out what is factual versus what has been twisted into falsity by misunderstanding historical, media spin, personal or political agenda, or mistake of fact. It is then that we will have the details to make informed decisions for ourselves and for our communities.