The training should include communication skills to use with members of particular cultures, and it should also address the various perceptions that these cultures may have ahout law enforcement and the criminal justice system. As part of this training, officers' own negative perceptions, biases and treatment of minority crime victims should be discussed. These departments should employ bilingual officers to act as interpreters for non-English speaking citizens. Police departments may also set up neighborhood community meetings to introduce officers to minority community residents. The meetings can be used as forums for residents to raise concerns that they may have about crime and victimization in their neighborhoods.
Officers can utilize the meetings to discuss victim assistance services that are available.
Minority community residents could sponsor an ethnic festival or outdoor cultural event and invite members of the law enforcement community to attend. The various ethnic groups could display particular aspects of their culture. Events such as these allow law enforcement officers to interact with various cultural groups in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Traditionally, since minorities have only seen police officers as coming to enforce the law in their communities, this interaction will give that perception a new dimension. Communication is but one of the barriers which places law enforcement personnel and minorities on opposite sides of the table.