Police-Community Relations in Times of Crisis: Decay and Reform in the Post-Ferguson Era

Drawing on interviews with officers, offenders, practitioners and community members, this book explores policing changes in the ‘post-Ferguson’ era and informs future policing practice.

The death of Michael Brown at the hands of a white Ferguson police officer has uncovered an apparent legitimacy crisis at the heart of American policing. Some have claimed that de-policing may have led officers to become less proactive. How exactly has the policing of gangs and violence changed in the ‘post-Ferguson’ era? This book explores this question, drawing on participant observation field notes and in-depth interviews with officers, offenders, practitioners and community members in a Southern American State. As demands for police reform have once again come into focus following George Floyd’s death, this crucial book informs future policing practice to promote effective crime prevention and gain public trust.