Why is abolition on the table?
In this section, you'll learn the general definitions of abolition, review America's current policing track record, and consider prompts on how to practically think about reimagining public safety.
Understanding the slogan
There are different ways to think about a slogan like “abolish the police.” Some activists think of it as a rhetorical device designed to inspire action (similar to the phrase “abolish ICE”).
Others see it as a strategy to completely dismantle the current police force and end the discriminatory policing and incarceration models that we currently exist within today. This approach would replace the current ineffective system with a new equitable approach to public safety and requires a societal shift in how we think about crime and punishment.
While "abolition" may seem extreme at first, it generates conversations and allow us to think more deeply about the state of our dysfunctional policing system.
Abolition acknowledges that the entire policing system America has designed and obeyed for hundreds of years is beyond repair and requires a solution as expansive as the problem. The scale of change required is so broad and abstract at this point that the idea can be deeply uncomfortable for a lot of people. However, abolitionists feel like reform is the equivalent of taking an aspirin to remove a malignant tumor.
Abolition is a journey
Abolition isn't a quick solution to a complex problem. In fact, many activists and organizations think about it as a long journey that begins with defunding (reassigning funds away from policing and reinvesting them in community programs can eventually shrink the need for traditional, inequitable policing).
In addition to defund, some abolitionists believe this path to progress also requires radical reform and a complete dismantling of the police along the way. Over time this can save lives, disempower the current policing system, and create space to reimagine a new, more equitable approach to public safety that hasn't existed in America.
America's policing track record
Imagining a world without the current approach to policing can be alarming to people, especially for those in the privileged majority that the police choose to serve. So many Americans grew up watching popular police procedural TV shows that allowed entertainment to shape our perspective on the role police officers play in society. Far right media, police forces, politicians, and unions have been effective at messaging that any type of significant change will result in a public safety crisis.
Data contradicts this perspective. Here’s a peek at America’s recent policing track record:
1. The U.S. kills more of its residents than most wealthy democratic countries in its peer group.
7,666
2. The police aren’t as effective as most people assume at de-escalating violent crime.
The failure to prosecute murderous police typifies a bad overall track record with solving violent crimes: Approximately 38% of murders, 66% of rapes, 70% of robberies, and 47% of aggravated assaults go uncleared every year.
Source: Brookings Institute
3. Police office misconduct statistics are alarming high
USA Today and Invisible Institute conducted an investigation into 85,000 US law enforcement officers that committed police conduct between 2000 and 2020.
Most misconduct involves routine infractions, but the records reveal tens of thousands of cases of serious misconduct and abuse. They include 22,924 investigations of officers using excessive force, 3,145 allegations of rape, child molestation and other sexual misconduct and 2,307 cases of domestic violence by officers.
Source: USA TODAY
Imagine all the unreported cases.
Abolish sounds scary but so is living within a policing system that isn't accountable to its citizens for misconduct. As a result, public confidence in the police force is at an all-time low.
Imagine a new approach to public safety
We live in a society where almost every problem—from noisy neighbors to broken tail lights—necessitates calling 911. However, research shows that police frequently escalate peaceful situations and turn them into deadly encounters that involve Black and Brown communities.
In response, another approach individuals are taking to reduce police violence is calling alternative community-based organizations that are trained to handle non-violent emergency situations. (Examples include situations that involve domestic abuse, homelessness, and mental health considerations). This reduces our reliance on the police, potentially saves lives, and helps us lean on other public safety programs to resolve our non-violent issues.
It's a small but impactful defunding step in the abolition journey. Learn more in our Defunding section or explore our City Directory to find some in your community.
If you are interested in learning more about abolition notable groups like #8toAbolish and Critical Resistance are also articulating their perspective on how to accomplish this strategy. Their demands range from demilitarizing communities to removing police from schools. Explore the full list.
ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE
Some people might say abolishing the current police system is impossible. But abolition isn't a new concept for Americans. Throughout US history, everyday people have accomplished impossible things—from women’s suffrage to the abolition of slavery. As the movement matures even further so will strategies for abolition.
Some questions to consider if you are thinking about developing abolition strategies:
- How do we transition from the current policing system in America? Should it be done locally or at the state and federal level?
- What could a new approach to policing look like? How would it function? Who would it be accountable to?
- How can we ensure we don't build another structure with the same inequity and bias that exists in the current system?
- How do we ensure the alternative community-based programs are effectively run and don't contribute to inequitable or inhumane outcomes for Black and brown people?
EXTRA CREDIT
