Ocean going ships, are occasionally in danger of hitting an iceberg. If the vessel hits an iceberg, not only can the ship’s vital components like its propeller or rudders be impaired, thus negatively effecting the ship’s maneuverability, navigation systems, and propulsion, but the vessel’s structure may be damaged, leading to flooding and potentially sinking the ship.
That is why over the past century a variety of protocols and technology (e.g., radar, sonar, and satellite imagery) have increasingly been used to prevent these kinds of incidents.
The challenge of not being able to see the entire picture is not endemic to ocean faring vessels and processes.
In the field of criminal justice, for example, police violence/excessive force is similar to an iceberg, where only a portion is visible to the public eye. The hidden portion beneath the surface represents the concealed instances of excessive force, which can be particularly dangerous.
The Nature of Police Violence/Police Use of Excessive Force
Few actions exist in a vacuum, and police violence, also known as excessive force, is no different.
More specifically, although reliable data is necessary to support claims about the frequency and types of such incidents, police violence/excessive force exists in a variety of contexts.
One of the most significant aspects to consider in addressing police violence is recognizing that it can occur both in public and private settings.
When police use of excessive force occurs in a public setting, there is a greater chance that it will be witnessed, including the possibility that it will be recorded via smartphone, and possibly shared on one or more social media platforms.
If the incident/s is particularly egregious, it may be the basis of a news media story. This information, in turn may lead to an investigation, the sanctioning of the officer/s, a change of policy, practice, etc.
The latter type of police violence (the one that is private), however, takes place away from the public eye, in areas where surveillance measures like CCTV, body-worn cameras, or dashboard cameras are less likely to capture the events. These secluded settings, such as back alleys, the back seat of police cruisers, or holding cells, can create an environment where abuse of power can go unnoticed.
Solutions used to address public police violence
Consequently, in recent years, along with demands to defund or abolish the police, we have witnessed a proliferation of recording technologies in law enforcement, such as dashboard and body-worn cameras. These tools provide a means to document police-citizen interactions and potentially expose instances of excessive force, and protect police officers from accusations of unnecessary force.
Nevertheless, it serves as a starting point, as visible evidence can create pressure for change and prompt further examination of policies and practices.
To effectively address the issue of police violence, it’s crucial to rely not only on witness testimony or video evidence but also on comprehensive data collection, thorough investigations, and a commitment to accountability.
This requires systemic changes within law enforcement agencies, the support of external bodies for impartial investigations, and the willingness of policymakers to enact meaningful reforms.
By taking these steps, we can work towards reducing police use of excessive force and ensuring a more just and equitable society.
Photo Credit
Photographer: David Stanley
Title: Titanic Iceberg
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2023-05-26-at-12.20.46-PM.png342621Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2023-05-26 16:49:442023-05-26 16:49:44The iceberg explanation of police use of excessive force
Graffiti and street art has a longstanding connection with political and social issues. Not only do we see this kind of activity proliferate when controversial issues are contested in urban public spaces, but we typically witness graffiti and street art when a grass roots social movement develops, or political or social revolution emerges.
In recent times lots of this type of graffiti and street art in support of ethnic, racial, and social justice issues has been produced. This work may be generic, like profanity laced tags against political leaders (e.g., Fuck Trump), etc., or it may involve more detailed and complicated types of communication including with different colors, shapes, and sizes, etc.
This whole cavalcade of icons, images, lettering, symbols, and words begs numerous interesting questions such as who is doing this kind of work? what is the range (e.g., what particular subjects do writers and artists focus on)? what effect (or impact) does it have? etc.
Some of these questions are more interesting and/or difficult to answer. Among the three previously listed ones, the effect of graffiti and street art that criticizes racial and ethnic injustice and promotes social justice are perhaps most interesting and are most needed for deeper inquiry.
Why? In recent times we have seen a considerable amount of graffiti and street art in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and protesting the needless deaths of people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Climate Change and other threats to our environment, and in support of LGBTQ+ Rights and Visibility, Immigration and Migrant Rights, Gender Equality, Women’s Rights and Indigenous Rights and Cultural Preservation
The question is how much impact does this work have?
On the plus side, graffiti and street art can bring awareness to pressing issues. And, despite its transient nature these forms of urban public art can have a lifespan beyond the surfaces it was originally applied to (through its reproduction through news and social media channels).
But who and how are subject populations (those that are exposed to graffiti and street art) affected by this work? Keep in mind that awareness does not necessarily mean that people are motivated to spring into action and engage in political activity that supports a particular political position.
Thus it’s important to measure the impact of graffiti and street art with different populations (e.g., from experts to nonexperts) using a multimethodological approach (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups, content analysis of news and social media coverage, etc.)
That being said, conducting this type of research that is rigorous and one to produce meaningful results is complicated and resource intensive.
One should not assume that if you do an examination of only one type of
In order to best understand a phenomenon it’s important to take a multi method approach.
Why? in any type of communication there are critical aspects to all types of communication including the creator/perpetrator, the communication vehicle and the interpretation.
Photo credit:
Photographer: Thomas Hawk
Title: Rest in Peace George Floyd
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/52662305732_3bf04d9c79_k.jpg13652048Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2023-05-20 12:40:032023-05-20 12:40:03Exploring how graffiti and street art calls attention to social justice issues
Unless you have direct experience with incarceration, many people think that all correctional facilities and systems in the United States are the same.
The reality, however, is that there’s considerable variety among the places and systems that manage the approximate 2.1 million people who are currently incarcerated.
We can probably come up with five categories on which these entities vary including: philosophy of incarceration, facility types (e.g., city and county jails, state prisons, federal penitentiaries, specialized units, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Centers, etc.), management styles, public versus private entities, the types of populations that are incarcerated, and geographic/cultural variations.
Thus some jails, prisons, etc. are better at providing safe and secure living and working conditions, adequate health, medical and psychological care, while others are worse at delivering these kinds of things, etc..
Why is this important to know?
First, given the importance of jails, prisons and other correctional facilities not only for the criminal justice system, but in their attempts to achieve their goals (i.e., punishment, public safety, rehabilitation, deterrence, etc.), it’s important that we encourage informed discourse, and avoid making generalizations, and relying on myths, especially when they do not accurately reflect what we know to be true.
Second, understanding that there is considerable variety may help us to recognize disparities and perhaps address them in a timely fashion.
Third, understanding the diversity may assist correctional administrators and planners to tailor or better shape interventions and policies.
Fourth, and most important, understanding that there is variety may lead to better approaches to humanizing the carceral experience.
So how do we go about addressing the disparities, and improving jail and prison conditions so they are more just, safe and humane not only for inmates but for correctional workers too?
Numerous proposals have been advanced, including improved reporting systems, 1-800 numbers, etc. Overall these approaches are typically piecemeal.
If we want to better target our efforts, we might consider directing them towards the jails and prisons and correctional systems that need them the most.
How would we go about doing that? To begin with almost all correctional facilities and systems can be rank ordered on the previously mentioned continuums.
And a handful of organizations (e.g., Prison Policy Initiative; Vera Institute of Justice; U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics; PrisonInsight, and the Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) do this sort of thing.
Sometimes this process generally relies upon self reports, provided by correctional institutions and systems and at other times they don’t. More importantly, there is no comprehensive scaling system, and the reports are released on a sporadic basis.
Until then activism directed at improving jails, prisons and other correctional facilities and systems is going to be a little bit of this and a little bit of that. People protesting against substandard and/or horrific jail and prison conditions, policies and procedures may feel like they are spinning their wheels because their efforts are spread all over the place.
Photo: Orleans Parish Prison, Louisiana. March 2012.
Photographer: Bart Everson
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2023-05-12-at-5.53.45-PM.png489889Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2023-05-13 20:00:412023-05-14 12:18:46Addressing the diversity of American correctional facilities and systems
The iceberg explanation of police use of excessive force
/by Jeffrey Ian RossOcean going ships, are occasionally in danger of hitting an iceberg. If the vessel hits an iceberg, not only can the ship’s vital components like its propeller or rudders be impaired, thus negatively effecting the ship’s maneuverability, navigation systems, and propulsion, but the vessel’s structure may be damaged, leading to flooding and potentially sinking the ship.
That is why over the past century a variety of protocols and technology (e.g., radar, sonar, and satellite imagery) have increasingly been used to prevent these kinds of incidents.
The challenge of not being able to see the entire picture is not endemic to ocean faring vessels and processes.
In the field of criminal justice, for example, police violence/excessive force is similar to an iceberg, where only a portion is visible to the public eye. The hidden portion beneath the surface represents the concealed instances of excessive force, which can be particularly dangerous.
The Nature of Police Violence/Police Use of Excessive Force
Few actions exist in a vacuum, and police violence, also known as excessive force, is no different.
More specifically, although reliable data is necessary to support claims about the frequency and types of such incidents, police violence/excessive force exists in a variety of contexts.
One of the most significant aspects to consider in addressing police violence is recognizing that it can occur both in public and private settings.
When police use of excessive force occurs in a public setting, there is a greater chance that it will be witnessed, including the possibility that it will be recorded via smartphone, and possibly shared on one or more social media platforms.
If the incident/s is particularly egregious, it may be the basis of a news media story. This information, in turn may lead to an investigation, the sanctioning of the officer/s, a change of policy, practice, etc.
The latter type of police violence (the one that is private), however, takes place away from the public eye, in areas where surveillance measures like CCTV, body-worn cameras, or dashboard cameras are less likely to capture the events. These secluded settings, such as back alleys, the back seat of police cruisers, or holding cells, can create an environment where abuse of power can go unnoticed.
Solutions used to address public police violence
Consequently, in recent years, along with demands to defund or abolish the police, we have witnessed a proliferation of recording technologies in law enforcement, such as dashboard and body-worn cameras. These tools provide a means to document police-citizen interactions and potentially expose instances of excessive force, and protect police officers from accusations of unnecessary force.
That being said, although collecting and analyzing video evidence is important, it doesn’t guarantee that an investigation, accountability (e.g., sanctions against involved officers, units or departments), or policy change will occur, nor does it insure that these actions will be done well.
Nevertheless, it serves as a starting point, as visible evidence can create pressure for change and prompt further examination of policies and practices.
To effectively address the issue of police violence, it’s crucial to rely not only on witness testimony or video evidence but also on comprehensive data collection, thorough investigations, and a commitment to accountability.
This requires systemic changes within law enforcement agencies, the support of external bodies for impartial investigations, and the willingness of policymakers to enact meaningful reforms.
By taking these steps, we can work towards reducing police use of excessive force and ensuring a more just and equitable society.
Photo Credit
Photographer: David Stanley
Title: Titanic Iceberg
Exploring how graffiti and street art calls attention to social justice issues
/by Jeffrey Ian RossGraffiti and street art has a longstanding connection with political and social issues. Not only do we see this kind of activity proliferate when controversial issues are contested in urban public spaces, but we typically witness graffiti and street art when a grass roots social movement develops, or political or social revolution emerges.
In recent times lots of this type of graffiti and street art in support of ethnic, racial, and social justice issues has been produced. This work may be generic, like profanity laced tags against political leaders (e.g., Fuck Trump), etc., or it may involve more detailed and complicated types of communication including with different colors, shapes, and sizes, etc.
This whole cavalcade of icons, images, lettering, symbols, and words begs numerous interesting questions such as who is doing this kind of work? what is the range (e.g., what particular subjects do writers and artists focus on)? what effect (or impact) does it have? etc.
Some of these questions are more interesting and/or difficult to answer. Among the three previously listed ones, the effect of graffiti and street art that criticizes racial and ethnic injustice and promotes social justice are perhaps most interesting and are most needed for deeper inquiry.
Why? In recent times we have seen a considerable amount of graffiti and street art in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and protesting the needless deaths of people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Climate Change and other threats to our environment, and in support of LGBTQ+ Rights and Visibility, Immigration and Migrant Rights, Gender Equality, Women’s Rights and Indigenous Rights and Cultural Preservation
The question is how much impact does this work have?
On the plus side, graffiti and street art can bring awareness to pressing issues. And, despite its transient nature these forms of urban public art can have a lifespan beyond the surfaces it was originally applied to (through its reproduction through news and social media channels).
But who and how are subject populations (those that are exposed to graffiti and street art) affected by this work? Keep in mind that awareness does not necessarily mean that people are motivated to spring into action and engage in political activity that supports a particular political position.
Thus it’s important to measure the impact of graffiti and street art with different populations (e.g., from experts to nonexperts) using a multimethodological approach (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups, content analysis of news and social media coverage, etc.)
That being said, conducting this type of research that is rigorous and one to produce meaningful results is complicated and resource intensive.
One should not assume that if you do an examination of only one type of
In order to best understand a phenomenon it’s important to take a multi method approach.
Why? in any type of communication there are critical aspects to all types of communication including the creator/perpetrator, the communication vehicle and the interpretation.
Photo credit:
Photographer: Thomas Hawk
Title: Rest in Peace George Floyd
Addressing the diversity of American correctional facilities and systems
/by Jeffrey Ian RossUnless you have direct experience with incarceration, many people think that all correctional facilities and systems in the United States are the same.
The reality, however, is that there’s considerable variety among the places and systems that manage the approximate 2.1 million people who are currently incarcerated.
How exactly do correctional institutions and systems differ?
We can probably come up with five categories on which these entities vary including: philosophy of incarceration, facility types (e.g., city and county jails, state prisons, federal penitentiaries, specialized units, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Centers, etc.), management styles, public versus private entities, the types of populations that are incarcerated, and geographic/cultural variations.
Thus some jails, prisons, etc. are better at providing safe and secure living and working conditions, adequate health, medical and psychological care, while others are worse at delivering these kinds of things, etc..
Why is this important to know?
First, given the importance of jails, prisons and other correctional facilities not only for the criminal justice system, but in their attempts to achieve their goals (i.e., punishment, public safety, rehabilitation, deterrence, etc.), it’s important that we encourage informed discourse, and avoid making generalizations, and relying on myths, especially when they do not accurately reflect what we know to be true.
Second, understanding that there is considerable variety may help us to recognize disparities and perhaps address them in a timely fashion.
Third, understanding the diversity may assist correctional administrators and planners to tailor or better shape interventions and policies.
Fourth, and most important, understanding that there is variety may lead to better approaches to humanizing the carceral experience.
So how do we go about addressing the disparities, and improving jail and prison conditions so they are more just, safe and humane not only for inmates but for correctional workers too?
Numerous proposals have been advanced, including improved reporting systems, 1-800 numbers, etc. Overall these approaches are typically piecemeal.
If we want to better target our efforts, we might consider directing them towards the jails and prisons and correctional systems that need them the most.
How would we go about doing that? To begin with almost all correctional facilities and systems can be rank ordered on the previously mentioned continuums.
And a handful of organizations (e.g., Prison Policy Initiative; Vera Institute of Justice; U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics; PrisonInsight, and the Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) do this sort of thing.
Sometimes this process generally relies upon self reports, provided by correctional institutions and systems and at other times they don’t. More importantly, there is no comprehensive scaling system, and the reports are released on a sporadic basis.
If we can find the correctional facilities, processes, practices, and system that need to be reformed the most, then prison activists and reformers, and correctional workers can target our collective efforts.
Until then activism directed at improving jails, prisons and other correctional facilities and systems is going to be a little bit of this and a little bit of that. People protesting against substandard and/or horrific jail and prison conditions, policies and procedures may feel like they are spinning their wheels because their efforts are spread all over the place.
Photo: Orleans Parish Prison, Louisiana. March 2012.
Photographer: Bart Everson