Reimagining Policing in Minneapolis: Balancing Crime Prevention and Social Justice

Abstract

Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the city of Minneapolis grappled with shattered community trust, record rates of violence, and low officer morale. Balancing the interests of crime prevention and social justice in the community that the authors of this article serve is a vital concern, as it is in so many other cities and jurisdictions. Our perspective on crime prevention and social justice emphasizes transparency, community partnerships, and evaluative metrics, and we argue for and reflect on that approach here. By implementing practical, purposeful, and informed policy changes, the Minneapolis Police Department and our community have made significant strides forward in both building capacity for community trust and launching crime prevention initiatives.