Police Discretion

... it is applied on a daily basis, and what problems it solves and also the ones that it brings up. Police discretion exists when officers have some leeway or choice in how to respond to a situation (Dunham & Alpert 119) But police discretion could also exist in situations when an officer might opt to not respond or make an intervention. For example, an ... It seems like they are trying to make a name for themselves too fast. This sometimes may lead them to make mistakes on the job. In the 1960's, training left police discretion under the purview of the occupational culture and "common se...

• Word Count: 2138
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... put a special emphasis on enforcing. These same types of commands also come from governmental agencies as well. The problem that arises from allowing the police to use there discretion in assessing crimes is that, in the publics mind, sometimes this discretionary power can be abused. Officers may tend to give leniency to one group and not another. This amounts ... ideal and is never taken into lightly. Only when the common good is being threatened can the use of force be justified. As was the case with the use of discretion by police, there also exists a strict doctrine of guidelines s...

• Word Count: 1998
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... process of the robbery the policeman could. He could do this because there was a clear threat of danger to himself of to another officer or human being. Though police are trained in using discretion and use of force, sometimes mistakes are made where too little or too much force is applied. A policeman may deem a person totally incapable of hurting someone, only to ... just how dangerous that person in when he/she does something to injure a person around him whether it be a civilian or police officer. Though this lack of force is rarely seen, it can have serious consequences. Because of...

• Word Count: 1324
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... system and remain crooked. It is difficult, as an utterly conventional officer, to go against the tide and break the wall of silence. Everything in a police officer's line of duty involves using his or her discretion. Discretion is defined as the power or right to decide or act in one's own judgment. In this video, the officers believed that the perpetrator was worth ... beating. Sometimes, an officer practices poor discretion⎯as exemplified in this article. In class, discretion was discussed in the context of police officers letting certain perpetrators go free after certain points i...

• Word Count: 571
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography

... that regularly poor and minority Americans has become victims of not only harsher sentencing with extensive incarceration, but from the very first step of police profiling and inadequate legal defense. When it comes to sentencing most of the cases never even go to trial and this is because the ... and his family dependence of his income. For aggravating factors he consider the brutality of the crime and the fact that he lied to the police about his role in the crime. With the addition and subtraction presented, the judge cite the process he used to calculate the precise length ... term. ...

• Word Count: 2655
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... of force necessary to control a situation? Since possible criminal situations induce both non-violent and violent responses by possible suspects, the officer's discretion to use force is at a premium. But want happens when the officer is the one who initiates violence in retaliation to what a ... of ramifications, force, were to be used for certain criminal actions and situations. This would, consequently, alleviate most of the concern over police-community relations resulting in conflict since each member could then expect exact reactions to exact situations. But it must be reiterated ...

• Word Count: 1054
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... more important than other profession. Also the various methods of police accountability will be critically examined to determine their adequacy. The issue of police accountability and deviance has been a concern dating back as far as the eighteenth century in London. This is not surprising considering the amount of power and discretion police officers have, and the level of trust that the public ... holds with these civil servants. Accountability is perhaps most important with police officers because of their right to use coercive force when enforcing the law. Unlike other professions .....

• Word Count: 1063
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... service, where they must show interest in complaints to resolve situations. Officers must deal with complaints, giving out general information, helping people who are locked out of their homes, being police escorts, delivering death messages, performing house and business checks, and assisting other city agencies, are more responsibilities of an officer. Officers must also preserve evidence, failure to obtain proper preservation ... area covered. Undercover patrollers are able to observe an increased amount of criminal activity by becoming an un-realized presence, and they can gather in...

• Word Count: 2495
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... (Pennsylvania) Adult Probation Department, explains that officer safety is not a probation philosophy or mission; it has nothing to do with whether you perceive your role as a social worker or police officer. Rather, officer safety is a commitment to a specific and practical plan to ensure the safety, survival, and welfare of probation staff. The final argument is based on funding ... may be a long and difficult task. In 1992 the State of Florida was faced with a similar dilemma. Although the existing state law seemed to permit the agency the discretion to authorize probation officers t...

• Word Count: 4346
• Approx Pages: 17
• Grade Level: High School