About News What Colleges and Universities Can Do to Improve Police-Community Relations Jun 12, 2020 Brian N. Williams What Colleges and Universities Can Do to Improve Police-Community Relations In the wake of the death of George Floyd – and the protests that it has sparked around the world – public attention is focused on ending police brutality like never before. Even before Floyd’s May 25 death in Minneapolis, public trust and confidence in law enforcement and America’s legal system were already in a perilous state. The difference now is that calls are being amplified to defund and disband police departments as they are currently known. What can America’s higher education system do to reduce the use of excessive force among police? As a public policy scholar who examines the interplay between race, policing and public governance, I see multiple things that colleges and universities can do to make a difference. Read in The Conversation Brian N. Williams I am an Associate Professor of Public Policy in the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia, after previous faculty appointments at Florida State University, Vanderbilt University and the University of Georgia (UGA), as well as administrative appointments at UGA and Vanderbilt. My research centers on issues related to demographic diversity, local law enforcement, and public governance, with special attention devoted to the co-production of public safety and public order. Read full bio Related Content Brian N. Williams Batten Researcher Brings Police, Students Together to Better Understand Each Other News Police and students can learn from one another if they talk more, according to Batten's Brian N. Williams, an associate professor of public policy. Policing After George Floyd: Where Do We Go From Here? News In a commentary for Bloomberg Law, Batten's Brian N. Williams and co-author Carmen J. Williams, a third-year law student at the UVA School of Law, say the conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd marks a turning point. The path forward requires enacting needed reforms and courageous leadership by prosecutors and others. Stay Up To Date with the Latest Batten News and Events Subscribe
Brian N. Williams I am an Associate Professor of Public Policy in the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia, after previous faculty appointments at Florida State University, Vanderbilt University and the University of Georgia (UGA), as well as administrative appointments at UGA and Vanderbilt. My research centers on issues related to demographic diversity, local law enforcement, and public governance, with special attention devoted to the co-production of public safety and public order. Read full bio
Batten Researcher Brings Police, Students Together to Better Understand Each Other News Police and students can learn from one another if they talk more, according to Batten's Brian N. Williams, an associate professor of public policy.
Policing After George Floyd: Where Do We Go From Here? News In a commentary for Bloomberg Law, Batten's Brian N. Williams and co-author Carmen J. Williams, a third-year law student at the UVA School of Law, say the conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd marks a turning point. The path forward requires enacting needed reforms and courageous leadership by prosecutors and others.