Epistemic Justice in Cross-Cultural Policing

Sor Juana's writings expose how authority silences dissenting voices and alternative ways of knowing. Epistemic injustice in policing occurs when officers dismiss community knowledge about local conditions, cultural practices, or historical grievances because it contradicts official narratives. A Sor Juana-inspired approach requires police to recognize that indigenous, immigrant, and marginalized communities possess legitimate knowledge about justice, safety, and their own needs. This means treating community oral histories as evidence, respecting cultural conflict-resolution practices, and questioning why certain knowledge sources are deemed credible. Implementation includes diverse police hiring, mandatory cultural literacy training, and community advisory structures with actual decision-making power. Epistemic justice transforms policing from top-down information gathering to genuine dialogue.