THE CONSTITUTION IS CONSIDERED THE HIGHEST LAW OF THE LAND, AND ALL PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE OBLIGATED TO ENFORCE IT. IT CREATED THE BASIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT COMPRISING 3 BRANCHES. THESE BRANCHES ARE THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, AND THE JUDICIAL BRANCH. THE CONSTITUTION NOT ONLY OUTLINES THE POWERS OF THE GOVERNMENT, BUT ALSO DELINEATES THE LIMITS OF GOVERNMENT POWER AND REACH TO PROTECT ITS’ CITIZENS. THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND THE AMENDMENTS CAME ABOUT TO CLARIFY THE REACH OF THE GOVERNMENT INTO PRIVATE LIVES, AND TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS AGAINST A GOVERNMENT BECOMING TOO POWERFUL.
THERE ARE SIX AMENDMENTS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT A POLICE OFFICERS’ ACTIONS AND DECISION MAKING. UNDERSTANDING THEM THOROUGHLY IS IMPERATIVE TO PROPERLY FULFILLING YOUR DUTIES AS A PEACE OFFICER. THESE AMENDMENTS ARE AMENDMENT 1,4,5,6,8, AND 14.
UNDERSTANDING THE AMENDMENTS FULLY WILL HELP A PEACE OFFICER UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF ALL PERSONS THAT RESIDE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. WHEN A PERSON EXERCISES AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT THE INTERFERES WITH ANOTHER INDIVIDUALS RIGHTS, A PEACE OFFICER MUST BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
THERE ARE SEVEN PRIMARY GOALS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE. THESE ARE AS FOLLOWS: GUARANTEE DUE PROCESS, PREVENT CRIME, PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY, TO UPHOLD AND ENFORCE THE LAW, DISPENSE EQUAL JUSTICE, APPREHEND OFFENDERS, AND TO ASSURE VICTIM RIGHTS.
CHAPTER TWO DISCUSSES THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE ENFORCEMENT OF THESE LAWS MUST BE SHARED BY ALL