Police Discretion Essay - 1489 Words

In this essay a discussion will be explored about the benefits and problems associated with police use of discretion. Which current policing strategies have the most potential for controlling officer discretion and providing accountability, and which have the least, and why is that the case? And finally, how might these issues impact the various concerns facing law enforcement today? Police behavior is different across all communities. In fact, how police react to combat crime is affected by the management style of the various police administrators. Also, local politics will have a strong influence on how police react to crime. When police respond to a call, they will make a determination of the â€Å"cost and benefits† of their reaction.†¦show more content†¦Without this network of informers, it would be difficult to capture users, possessors and sellers of illegal drugs. In this circumstance police discretion has a net positive effect. When and how officers use dis cretion is not always seen in a positive light by some members of the community; for example some officers feel that an assault between two blacks is an acceptable way for them to handle disputes, therefore there would be no need to invoke the criminal process (Goldstein, 1960). An officer’s negative appraisal of minorities is one of the reasons they are so over-represented in the criminal justice system. If officers are making the decision not to invoke the criminal process when dealing with white upper class males, but in most cases invoking the criminal process when dealing with members of the minority community, that is a violation of due process. In that case, the net affect of police discretion is negative. One important work which highlighted some of the shortcomings of officer discretion was a survey sponsored by the American Bar Foundation. Among other things that survey noted in the 1960’s a national crisis arose with certain problems relating to law enforcem ent. The survey noted that the possibility existed that discretionary decision making could represent a pattern of discrimination, it did say, on the other hand, the survey was unable to say definitively rather discrimination existed inShow MoreRelatedPolice Discretion1244 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Police Discretion Jocelyn Golphin University of the District of Columbia Criminal Justice System 2/21/2014 Golphin 2 Police discretion is a very important approach in matters concerning criminal justice. There has been a consistent problem between enforcing the law and the spirit of the law. Discretion in the broader sense can be defined as the individual’s ability to make a decision basing on the principle of courses of the action. During trainingRead MorePolice Discretion1050 Words   |  5 PagesPolice Discretion Police discretion is the ability to choose a course of action because of broad limits of power. It refers to the autonomy an officer has in choosing an appropriate course of action (The Police In America, 113). It includes authority to decide which of the various means of helping the helpless, maintaining order, and keeping the peace are best suited to particular circumstances (www.worldandi.com/specialreport/1989/january/Sa15878.htm). The police need to have discretionRead MorePolice Discretion1548 Words   |  7 PagesPolice Discretion David Gonzalez University of Phoenix Introduction to Policing CJA/370 Professor John W. Feltgen June 23, 2005 Abstract In this paper I will discuss police discretion and the use of these discretionary powers in the law enforcement workplace. I will explore the mythical aspects of police discretionary powers and the source of this myth. I will further discuss the control of discretionary authority. I will name instances of law enforcement officials using their discretionary powersRead MorePolice Abuse Of Discretion And Discretion2015 Words   |  9 Pages Police Abuse of Discretion William Powell Jr. American Military University Professor Robert Arruda CMRJ303 Criminology January 17, 2014 Abstract Utilizing the research from several sources and personal experience, this paper will discuss police abuse of discretion. The paper will begin by defining discretion. The paper will examine several types of discretion variables. The paper will discuss its use in the field and office settings. The paper will discussRead MorePolice Discretion1418 Words   |  6 PagesPolice discretion by definition is the power to make decisions of policy and practice. Police have the choice to enforce certain laws and how they will be enforced. Some law is always or almost always enforced, some is never or almost never enforced, and some is sometimes enforced and sometimes not (Davis, p.1). Similarly with discretion is that the law may not cover every situation a police officer encounters, so they must use their discretion wisely. Until 1956, people thought of police discretionRead MoreDefinition Of Discretion And Police Discretion2054 Words   |  9 PagesThe term discretion has several meanings the liberty to decide what should be done in a specific circumstance is one general universal definition. But when dealing with criminal justice and police work the description changes a bit. The criminal justice definition of discretion is Police discretion discusses the authority given to a police officer that allows him or her to decide how to best handle a certain situation. This is designed at increasing the flexibility of the criminal justice systemRead MorePolice Discretion2131 Words   |  9 PagesDiscretion is defined as the authority to make a decision between two or more choices (Pollock, 2010). More specifically, it is defined as â€Å"the capacity to identify and to document criminal and noncriminal events† (Boivin ump; Cordeau, 2011). Every police officer has a great deal of discretion concerning when to use their authority, power, persuasion, or force. Depending on how an officer sees their duty to society will determine an officer’s discretion. Discre tion leads to selective enforcementRead MorePolice Discretion2677 Words   |  11 PagesFrom a criminological perspective discretion can be defined as the authority granted by law to agencies and officials to act on their own considered judgement and conscience in certain situations; and each area of the legal system (judges, parliament and law enforcement) has its own discretion. Police discretion is the ability granted by the legal system to police offices, in certain situations, to act in a manner that allows authorities to make responsible decisions and individual choices or judgmentsRead MoreEssay on Police Discretion1425 Words   |  6 PagesPolice Discretion Discretion, uncertainly, and inefficiently are rampant and essential in criminal justice. Nobody expects perfection. That would neither be good nor fair. Justice is a sporting event in which playing fair is more important than winning. Law enactment, enforcement, and administration all involve trading off the possibility of perfect outcomes for security against the worst outcomes. Policing is the most visible part of this: employees on the bottom have more discretion thanRead MoreDisadvantages Of Police Discretion835 Words   |  4 PagesAssignment 2 Discretion can be defined as the availability of choice of options or actions. We all use discretion each and every day with all the decisions we make in our day to day lives. With that being said police also use discretion but theirs have the ability to change people’s lives on the daily basis. They have to make those decisions each and every day not knowing how it will affect the person’s life. Discretion is something that is a very necessary part of police work. One of the reason

The Importance Of Jacksonian Democracy - 722 Words

Andrew Jackson, war hero, man of the people, and seventh president of the United States of America led the Jacksonian Democrats; this political group was formed antebellum America. The democrats tried to aggrandize the puissance of lower classes, Americans that did not have as many opportunities unlike the aristocracy. While decreasing the clout of the rich and potent. Economically, they achieved benefits from governing during a period where huge advances in transportation, which ultimately accelerated commerce and helped the ordinary man. Politically, they wanted to invest power into an overwhelmingly massive executive branch against the aristocracy class of wealth Americans. The importance of Jacksonian democrats had represented†¦show more content†¦As such, economic, religious, and geographic changes were all reshaped in America in many paramount ways and hinted towards to considerable opportunities and downfalls in the future. Jacksonian Democracy was a period in America n history that formed a lasting impact that extended well beyond the mid 1800’s. The party laid out numerous economic and democratic reforms that permitted the layman to partake in politics as well as magnify the country’s patronage. In opposition to the Democrats, the Whigs of the early 1830s strongly favored a strong federal government through the power of the congress. They emphasized a program of modernization and economic protectionism. The major parties since the early 1830s in the United States were the Democratic Party, or Jacksonian Democrats organized by Andrew Jackson, and the Whig Party, which was assembled by Henry Clay. Both the democrats and Whigs had opposed each other throughout their reign of supremacy during this period of the United States government. As Daniel Feller states in, The Jacksonian Promise, both parties believed in several different things. â€Å"Whigs repelled Democratic accusations of exclusivity and class bias in their programs. Social advance benefitted everyone, and the tools for of success, especially education, were (or would be, if Whigs had theirShow MoreRelatedJeffersonian Republicanism vs. Jacksonian Democracy1441 Words   |  6 Pagesand independent farmer, who by no stretch of the imagine had the capabilities to serve in government. The Jacksonian Democracies image of the common man expanded from farmers to include laborers, planters, and mechanics. Jackson saw these people as the true representatives of the Government, and thus its true servers. The image of the common man for each the Jeffersonians and the Jacksonians differed in the fundamental principle of the true chosen class, and its real role in Government. AlthoughRead MoreJacksonian Dbq Essays1637 Words   |  7 PagesJacksonian Democrats viewed themselves as the guardians of the United States Constitution, political democracy, individual liberty, and equality of economic opportunity. However, the Jacksonian Democrats were in a catch 22. In order for them to protect the interests of the common man, they at times had to violate the very things for which they stood. By doing this, the Jacksonian Democrats stressed the importance of the power of the common man, at times by violating their own principles. TheRead MoreAnalysis Of The War Hero After The Battle Of New Orleans934 Words   |  4 PagesNovember 2015 APUSH DBQ: Jacksonian Democrats Andrew Jackson became known as the war hero after the Battle of New Orleans. His victory over the Indians in the battle helped his public recognition and increased his popularity in society. In the election of 1820, Andrew Jackson ran for presidency and won with flying colors. Jackson’s humble background gave him an edge over other candidates - he was the voice for the â€Å"common man† and endorsed the idea of national democracy. His years in office was namedRead MoreAndrew Jackson: Development of the Penitentiary Movement937 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Jacksonian America: The development of the penitentiary movement Andrew Jackson is often labeled the first self-made man to become president. His most notable achievement during his presidency was that he radically expanded voting rights to all male citizens (slaves were not considered citizens at the time). The beginnings of the penitentiary movement (1829-1865) coincided with Jacksons tenure as the nations first populist president. His concept of a self-made man suggested that humanRead MoreAndrew Jackson, A New School Of Thought Essay1886 Words   |  8 Pagesworld of academics continued to develop and stricter guidelines became more urbanized, a new school of thought under the neoconservatives, a new school of thought based on both democratic and conservative viewpoints. Under the democratic school of Jacksonian historiography is Life of Andrew Jackson, a text written by John Spencer Bassett. In Bassett’s text we continue to look with greater eyes on the shortcomings of Jackson. Bassett argues Jackson’s â€Å"lack of educatio n, his crude judgments in many affairsRead MoreFreedom, Liberty, and Independence 1302 Words   |  6 PagesDuring the Jacksonian era, Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay, along with countless other Americans, held strong in their beliefs and the pursuit of their individual rights of freedom, liberty, and independence. The Jacksonian period was a time in American history that has been personified as a time of extreme change and upheaval in the areas of economic growth, political interests, and expansion. It was the tremendous shifts in these areas that threatened to surpass and exceed the very principles ofRead MoreThe Age Of Jackson Was A Time Of Tremendous Reform With American Society And Politics1128 Words   |  5 Pagesperiod between 1820 and 1850 indicates the high importance of his spirit of the reform. During this period, known as Jacksonian Democracy, social and political reform movements and equal rights dominated the American landscape. Many of these reforms were supported by religious ideals over democratic system, but in this period the democratic ideals in America came to greater results than ever before. The impact of the reforms that happened during the Jacksonian Era had strong political foundations. BeforeRead MoreDonald Kettl s The Next Government Of The United States1299 Words   |  6 Pageseconomy. Outsourcing to other companies provides the citizens with more options as well; if the government was completely responsible and in charge citizens would have to choose the government service regardless of cost or quality. There is great importance for citizens to have options because without them everyone would have to pay prices that may become extreme due to lack of competitiveness in the industries. The irresponsible governance of the United States is shown in many different instancesRead MoreThe Growth Of Democracy And Emergence Of Political Parties1804 Words   |  8 Pages1.There were many causes for the growth of democracy and emergence of political parties in early 19th century. To begin with, the expansion of franchise was instrumental in the growth of democracy. This occurred because certain legislatures laid back on their policies regarding who was allowed to vote. Many states started to increase white male suffrage, starting with Maryland, Indiana in 1816, Illinois in 1818, and Alabama in 1819. By the mid 1820s majority of the states had expanding voting rightsRead MoreThe Religious Impact Of The Second Great Awakening1403 Words   |  6 PagesAwakening was a religious movement that took place in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Around the same time, the concepts of Jacksonian democracy was becoming increasingly more well known. This idea stressed th e importance of the common individual. It focused on the ordinary people and what they thought about government. Jacksonian democracy also clarified that slavery is an issue. Religiously, The Second Great Awakening strongly The religious concept of earning salvation that grew

Dday Essay Intro Example For Students

Dday Essay Intro In 1943, the decision was made to attack the Germans in the spring of 1944. It was called Operation Overlord. On June 6, 1944, Allied troops invaded Normandy on the northern coast of France. The invasion was originally planned for June the fifth, but due to bad weather it was postponed until June the sixth. The Allies consisted of the United States, Britain, France, and Canada. The night before the attack Eisenhower ordered that the thousands of war ships, military and civilian, depart from English ports. They carried the assault force of one hundred and fifty-six thousand Allied soldiers through the English channel. Thousands of war planes flew close to the attack site until the attack. A fleet of warships bombarded German fortifications along the beaches. One hundred and thirty-five thousand men and twenty thousand vehicles invaded the beaches. In the next few days, the Allies secured the beaches. Some of the most important beaches in this battle are Omaha, Utah, and Juno beaches. The battle started when the British sixth air born division went in at ten minutes after midnight. They were the first troops to go into action. The second attack was by the eighty second in the one hundred and first division of air born attacks. They were less successful than the first division. On Juno beach, the Canadian forces landed first. Their first wave suffered a loss of fifty percent of their casualties. It was the highest of any of the five Dooms day battles excluding Omaha beach. By the end of Dooms day, fourteen thousand Canadians had been successfully landed. They penetrated further into France then any other allied force. Between Juno and Sword beaches the Canadians did most of their counter attacks on Germany. The fiftieth division took over Gold beach when they got there. No division came closer to its objective than the Canadians at Juno. Omaha beach was invaded on June tenth. On Omaha beach, one of the most chaotic parts of the battle, the United States first infantry went through the worst part of the landings out of any of the beaches. Their Sherman tanks had been mostly lost before they reached the shore. The three hundred and fifty second division was some of the best trained on the beaches. Within ten minutes, every officer and Sargent had been wounded or killed. The division had over four thousand casualties. The remaining survivors regrouped and headed inland. Allied invasion plans were not as bad as some seemed. Ten thousand out of the twenty thousand feared by Churchill. The United States made very slow progress and suffered a lot of casualties even though the successful Normandy invasion was costly in terms of materials and men. During the next few months, several thousand troops and millions of equipment came pouring into France for the Allied troops. In July, the Allies broke through the German boundaries. General George Pattons army started a lightening fast advance through France. The Allied troops freed Paris in August. By September, there were two million Allied troops in France. By the end of July 1944, almost one million Allied troops, most of them American, British, and Canadian were entrenched in Normandy. On July twentieth, a few German officers fried to kill Hitler because they knew that the war was lost. Their attempt failed, and because of them hundreds of suspected conspirators were killed. In the end, the Allies won the war.