Communities in Conflict with Police: Facilitating Dispute Resolution and Mediate Causes of Conflict

Walker Room, Dean Rusk Hall

Police cannot adequately serve the public without the respect and trust of the communities they serve. Who speaks for the community, and how can the legal system ensure that those voices are heard? What does equal protection under the law mean on the streets of America, where law enforcement is necessarily discretionary? What role should the federal government play when local trust in the rule of law recedes? how can community leaders and attorneys facilitate positive outcomes from conflict? This panel addressed leading initiatives to maintain dialogue between law enforcement authorities and the communities they serve.