Discretionary Actions of Law Enforcement - 788 Words

Discretionary Actions of Law Enforcement Discretionary actions of law enforcement in some cases have proven to be an effective tool by all levels of law enforcement for many years, but have also been an ethical problem as well. In the early years of organized law enforcement agencies such as the New York Municipal Police, which began conducting law enforcement activities in the mid-1800s, it was possible for police officers to use their own judgment to enforce the laws they saw fit to enforce. In some instances police officers could be paid off by gangs and gang leaders to render enforcement of the laws which would benefit the gangs. Additionally the officer would just look the other way as laws were being broken. This could have happened by the people perpetrating the crimes paying off the officers or the officers simply refused to get involved due to fear of the criminals. As the country began to develop and people began to move west of the major cities in the east, law enforcement moved with it. During the old west time period, cities and counties began to see the need for their own law enforcement officers in the form of city, town, or county Sheriffs. Many times we would fine the individuals placed in these positions often times were men with criminal backgrounds. Again just like the New York Municipal Police example these sheriffs would dictate the laws they saw fit to enforce. This would sometimes be the case at the federal levels also. Some U.S. Marshals oftenShow MoreRelatedDiscretion Of A Law Enforcement Officer873 Words   |  4 PagesAs a law enforcement officer, every situation will be handled differently. Everything is not always black and white, in fact when it comes to policing there are a lot of grey areas. This is where discretion plays an important role. An officer will use discretion in almost every situation he or she encounters; however there are times where an officer’s discretion is limited. There are many different factors that come in to play, some that are limiting to an officer’s discretion, and some thatRead MorePolice Discretion And How Does It Affect The Department And The Policing Profession1191 Words   |  5 Pagesis police discretion and why is it important for officers to use discretion. What are the factors that police use when making discretionary decisions. Can discretion be abused by law enforcement, if so how. What is Police Discretion? Introduction Exactly what does discretion mean when it comes to a police officer whose job it is to enforce societies written laws and statues? Who decides how much discretion is allowed and when it can be used? What kind of issues concerning an individualRead MoreThe Case Of The Criminal Justice System1259 Words   |  6 PagesFirstly, we must bear in mind that discretion is not just restricted to police officers. In fact, it is prevalent in almost every facet of criminal law. The criminal justice system in the United States allows the use of discretion widely through the police, defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, parole officers. However, as the ostiaries of the justice system, it is the police who make perhaps the most critical decisions. They are the ones who must decide how to diffuse a particularly heated crisisRead MorePolice And Diversity 202 By Vincent Del Castillo Essay1443 Words   |  6 PagesLaws, policing, communities, and relationships, are constantly shifting. In this cou rse, Police and Diversity 202, with professor Vincent Del Castillo, we’ve explored the pervasive influences and shifts of interactions between law enforcement and diverse groups. In the 21st century factors such as culture, race, ethnicity, stereotypes, and technology, have become so complex in how it affects the relationship between police officers and the community. Police Officers in America face diverse individualsRead MoreA Restraint Of Trade Clause918 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough, there is no one significant equitable remedy for resisting the enforcement of restraint of trade clauses in employment contracts, certain authorities tend to indicate that the most effective equitable remedy is an injunction, paired with declaratory relief. An injunction is an equitable remedy commonly used to prevent interference with equitable rights (in its exclusive jurisdiction) or to assist in the enforcement of legal obligations (in its auxiliary jurisdiction). The remedy willRead MoreStructural Injustice In The Criminal System Can Occur Due1344 Words   |  6 PagesStructural injustice in the criminal system can occur due to an individual’s implicit bias affecting their discretionary actions; however, the central question rests in who bears the moral responsibility of this injustice? In my opinion, individuals and sovereign institutions share the moral responsibility for the structural injustice that results when implicit bias influences discretionary actions in the criminal justice system, but the greater responsibility is vested in officials with authority whoRead MoreThe New Jim Crow Essay1052 Words   |  5 Pagesnew way to continue the marginalization of blacks by using the criminal justice system. In Michelle Al exander’s book â€Å" The New Jim Crow†, she shows how America’s â€Å" War on Drugs â€Å" has become a tool of racial segregation and how the discretionary enforcement of drug laws has resulted in an overwhelmingly negative affect on its black population. In the early days of colonial America, slavery was not as common as we would think. The primary method of securing the cheap labor needed to work the landRead MoreDiscretion Within The Criminal Justice Process1667 Words   |  7 PagesPolice discretion is defined as â€Å"The opportunity of law enforcement officers to exercise choice in their daily activities† (Nowacki, 2015). This means that actors with a great deal of discretion at their disposal may allow biases to affect their decision-making. These decisions lead to important implications throughout the criminal justice process, especially in the courtroom. The process begins with the decision to arrest by a law enforcement officer in the field. Once the case is forwarded to theRead MoreFactors Persuading Criminal Justice Staff Conduct Paper1530 Words   |  7 Pagesstaff conduct paper Many things play a role influencing how criminal justice officers will act and how the actions will affect the criminal justice system and the society that they have to protect and serve on a daily basis because of the influences of their actions. In the paper, it will be discussed the assess risk, responsibility, and financial effect working together with discretionary power worked out. By staff in the criminal justice system, and What part does a civilian oversight committeeRead MoreThe Meaning and Constitutional Significance of the Rule of Law1463 Words   |  6 PagesConstitutional Significance of the Rule of Law The rule of law means different things to different people. The meaning of the rule of law is a state of order in which events conform to the law. The rule of law often is stated to be one of the fundamental doctrines of principle of the UKconstitutional. Generally it has been seen as a characteristic feature of western liberal democracies. A widely-assumed meaning of the rule of law is that of peaceful resolution of disputes