The Fine Line between Police Discretion and Corruption Abstract In today’s law enforcement agencies there is a fine line between discretion and corruption. Imagine that you are a police officer‚ you pull over a car that you suspect is driven by someone who has had too much to drink. Upon reaching the window you find that it’s an old friend from school. Do you take him to jail or do you take him home? Police officers have the power to make this decision. In the world of the officer this could
Premium Police Police brutality Constable
Police discretion essentially alludes to the decision-making power/choice that is afforded to police in terms of the handling of a given situation; the fewer rules given to officers and the more individual power they wield‚ the greater the discretion. Alternately‚ with more rules placed on officers concerning the ways in which they should conduct themselves/police business‚ the lower the level of discretion. In many ways‚ police discretion is very important; every day‚ officers are faced with situations
Premium Police Law Crime
different factors that impact police discretion. There are four general categories that include Organizational Factors‚ Neighborhood Factors‚ Situational Factors‚ and that also contain subcategories within them. For this paper I will be focusing on Individual Officer Characteristics and Situational Factors. Individual officer characteristics which are influenced by an officer’s age‚ education‚ experience‚ gender‚ ambition and attitudes towards their job. The way that a police officer may present themselves
Premium Police Law Crime
“Anyone attempting to construct a workable definition of the police role will typically come away with old images shattered and a newfound appreciation for the intricacies of police work” (Dempsy) Police officers are faced each day with a vast array of situations with which they must deal. No two situations they encounter are ever the same‚ even when examines a large number of situations over an extended period of time. The officers are usually in the position of having to make decisions on how to
Premium Police Constable Tennessee v. Garner
In article “The ACLU‚ ECDs‚ and the erosion of police discretion?”‚ the author Lance Eldridge talks about the use of Tasers: if police are using that alternative too much to stop a criminal from fleeing. According to the article many criticize the use of Taser by saying it’s unconstitutional. And that police officers are using this tool as their first choose without thinking of the medical condition of the offender. Changes will be made in the legal system should the Supreme Court deem the use of
Premium Police Law United States Constitution
reasons for a police officer to exercise discretion. Police discretion is a choice by a law enforcement officer based on his or her training and experience whether to investigate or apprehend‚ the disposition of suspects and the application of sanctions (Schmalleger‚ 2015). Perhaps the most common practice for using discretions would be in those instances were the police handbook falls short‚ better known as the gray areas. Furthermore‚ police officers have also been known to use discretion when it comes
Premium Police Constable Crime
There have been ongoing debates about the guidelines for police officers when conducting discretionary searches. One police department that has been in the headlines for its practices of discretionary searches have been the New York City’s Police Department. New York City’s Stop and frisk policy allowed police officers to stop and search an individual on the street at their discretion based on suspicion of criminal activity. One of the most highly publicized cases of NYPD’s stop and frisk tactic
Premium Police Constable Crime
ASSIGNMENT #2 – Police Discretion When enforcing the law‚ no two situations are ever the same‚ there for becoming difficult and impossible‚ in some cases‚ to enforce the law equally. There are different circumstances in every crime‚ take murder for example. A ruthless‚ sadistic murder that was intentional. A pregnant woman being beaten by her husband until she‚ out of desperation‚ grabs a knife and stabs him to death. Two very different circumstances but they both fall under the same crime‚ murder
Premium Police Law Crime
In performing their duties‚ police are allowed to use a wide range of discretion. Police discretion “is defined as the power enjoyed by a public officer to make a choice among possible courses of action or inaction”(Green & Kelso‚ 2010). Using police discretion‚ officers can decide whether to make an arrest‚ and make decisions about the amount of force to use during an altercation. Factors that affect these decisions are race/ethnicity‚ the seriousness of the offense‚ the suspect’s demeanor‚ poverty
Premium Police Law Crime
Assignment: Police Discretion To me discretion is something that we always use like in how we choose things like a movie to watch food to eat we always have to be very discrete in what we choose to do. There are a lot of people that would think that it would be better if discretion was taken away from the police. What most of the people do not realize is that discretion needs to be exercised. Discretion is not the problem; the abuse of discretion by some people is. In this world there is
Premium Police Law Constable