Law enforcement is the system through which a society enforces its laws and ensures public order and safety. Police officers, sheriffs, and detectives are all members of law enforcement. They are the first responders to crimes, investigate criminal activities, and bring perpetrators of crime to justice. In addition, these professionals are responsible for preventing and detecting crimes before they occur. This role is essential to promoting safety and security, maintaining peace and stability, and protecting the rights of all citizens.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted many problems in law enforcement. These include high rates of violent crime in many cities and towns, a crisis of legitimacy for criminal legal systems that struggle to respond to crime spikes, and widespread distrust of police by many people. Harm to one person or isolated actions are rarely enough to show that a police department has abused its authority or failed to follow the law.
There are a variety of law enforcement agencies at the federal and local levels. The FBI investigates federal crimes, including terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime. The DEA enforces the nation’s drug laws, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives regulates weapons and combats illegal trafficking.
In Shielded, Schwartz draws on her academic research to humanize the victims of police violence in ways that mass media iconographic presentations of dead Black men fail to do. She also offers a comprehensive diagnosis of the structural problems that shield police departments from accountability.
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