This special issue examines the effects of tensions between law enforcement officers and ordinary citizens. In a post-George Floyd America, the public is ever more hypervigilant about the treatment of people of color at the hands of police, and conversely law enforcement officers feel paralyzed to conduct their duties because of the public scrutiny of their profession. The articles in this issue attempt to answer the question of whether these opposing sides can agree on policy changes that satisfy both sides or whether an entire overhaul of policing and the U.S. criminal justice system is needed. Relatedly, grass-roots movements such as Black Lives Matter (BLM) and the Me Too movement have helped inform the public of the inequities that are intrinsic in society. While this changing landscape has already impacted workplace climates and informed public policy, the question remains whether it will have long-standing effects on how the laws are enforced with the culturally diverse citizens in the U.S. Comparative criminology plays a key role in the adaptation of new public policy initiatives. There is a great deal to learn from the criminal justice experience of other countries (e.g. those with more restrictive gun control laws, police officers who only carry batons, use of force policies that are more or less restrictive than those in American law enforcement). In the summer of 2020, BLM protests took place in several countries throughout the world, not just the U.S. Interestingly, critical race theory, which has been around since the 90s in academic circles, is quickly becoming a main-stream concept in American public discourse. Having a more culturally-informed society challenges our understanding of law enforcement and the concept of policing. As such, the articles for this issue would enhance our understanding of the interconnections between democracy, criminal justice systems, and law enforcement.