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August 7, 2024

What Does Defund the Police Mean?

Written by Pointer & Buelna, LLP. Lawyers For The People, reviewed by Adanté Pointer

People wonder what does defund the police mean and the implications, but this idea is often misunderstood. It does not mean completely abolishing police departments but rather reimagining public safety. It’s based on the premise that reallocating funds to programs that prevent crime like Head Start would mean we don’t need as many cops on the streets. This is a fresh approach to community safety that prioritizes investments in social services, mental health, and other preventive measures. “Defund the police” is a call to action for a comprehensive and thoughtful reevaluation of our current policing philosophy and system. 

At Pointer & Buelna, LLP, Lawyers for the People, we stand by these forward-thinking concepts like defunding police. As California police brutality lawyers, we represent clients who have had their rights violated by law enforcement due to excessive force and other misconduct.

Prioritizing Community Support

One of the key principles behind the idea of defunding the police is the reevaluation of what constitutes public safety. Instead of exclusively relying on law enforcement to address various issues, the focus is shifted towards investing in community support services. This means allocating resources to social services, mental health programs, addiction treatment centers, and outreach measures. By prioritizing community support, we can address the root causes of crime and promote win-win, long-term solutions.

How Much Money Do Police Departments Get?

Police departments receive a substantial portion of local government budgets. In many cities across the United States, police spending accounts for the majority of total government expenditures with far too many of those taxpayer dollars going to pay off lawsuit settlements. This has raised concerns about the allocation of resources and whether funding could be better utilized in areas that directly contribute to the well-being of the community. For example, if we had more domestic violence shelters, would there be fewer domestic violence arrests?

The Militarization of American Policing

Over the years, law enforcement agencies have received surplus military equipment and transformed into heavily armed forces. This militarization has led to a disconnect between the police and the communities they serve. Police officers’ skill set and training often do not align with the social interactions they have, resulting in unnecessary escalations of violence. By defunding the police, we can redirect resources away from more weapons and armored vehicles and instead use it to build relationships and foster trust. As California police brutality attorneys, we know the militarization of local law enforcement agencies only hurts citizens.

How Police Funding Might Be Reallocated

Defunding the police highlights the need for a market-driven approach to investing taxpayer money. Instead of solely relying on law enforcement to address all societal issues, resources could be distributed among various government agencies based on the specific needs of each community. For one city that could mean investing in education, for another, it could mean working on the homelessness crisis. 

Get Legal Support for Victims of Police Brutality Today

At Pointer and Buelna, we see first hand day in and day out the damage caused by a broken law enforcement system. As California police brutality lawyers, we have seen far too many preventable deaths, overt racism, and inexcusable carelessness. If you are looking for a lawyer passionate about taking a stand against police brutality, look no further. To set up a free legal consultation, contact us now.