Reimagining Police: The Future of Public Safety

Gr 6 Up–Succinct and informative, this book clearly explains the current impact of policing on people of color and other marginalized groups. Chapters cover the history of police forces in the United States, the impact of policing by race, different types of policing, options for police reform, how to build stronger communities, and concludes by telling youth how they can work for change. The text explains the various issues and proposed solutions: “The call to disband the police focuses on the elimination of a police department or a particular unit of law enforcement. Another organization would be created to address and uphold public safety,” clearly and concretely allowing readers to reach their own conclusions. Topics related to policing are explored, such as protests, the Kenner Commission, the Black Panthers, and Black Lives Matter. Short paragraphs of information related to the chapter are in green boxes with black text, e.g., covering the Stonewall riots in the “History of Policing” chapter. Longer explanations are also clearly included. Quotes are written in green and set off to side of the page. Each chapter begins with white text on black pages with red and green borders and photo(s). Drawings, photos, cartoons, graphs, and charts are set apart from the text creating a bold graphic page layout. A glossary, notes, bibliography, further information, and index complete the book.