Challenging Racism & Law Enforcement

Law enforcement and the modern criminal justice system have played a significant role in perpetuating racial inequities through practices that disproportionately target and penalize communities of color. From over-policing in Black and Brown neighborhoods to racial profiling, discriminatory sentencing, and mass incarceration, systemic bias has led to stark disparities in arrests, convictions, and imprisonment. These inequities are rooted in a long history of criminalizing race and poverty, beginning with slave patrols and continuing through the war on drugs and “tough on crime” policies. The cumulative effect has devastated families, limited economic mobility, and eroded trust in public institutions. Achieving racial equity requires transforming the justice system to ensure accountability, fairness, and equal protection under the law for all.

We continue our work with the Arlington Sheriff’s office. Over three programs, Challenging Racism has conducted workshops for Sheriff, Chief, Majors, Captains, Sergeants, and Lieutenants. We developed a foundational understanding of systemic and structural racism, privilege, blind spots and bias, and equity. We also discussed Microaggressions, as well as “Building a Culture of Accountability” in the workplace and seven practices that help to build business structures that build equity and anti-racists practices into policies and procedures in the workplace.