Advantages of police discretion. The Advantages of Police Discretion 2022-10-20

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Police discretion refers to the ability of law enforcement officers to make decisions in the field about how to handle a situation or issue. This can involve deciding whether or not to issue a citation or arrest someone, choosing which laws or policies to enforce, and determining the appropriate level of force to use in a given situation.

There are several advantages to police discretion. One of the main benefits is that it allows officers to tailor their responses to the specific circumstances of each situation. By using their judgment and expertise, they can determine the most appropriate course of action based on the unique details of the case. This can help to ensure that the response is fair and effective, rather than being based on a one-size-fits-all approach.

Another advantage of police discretion is that it allows officers to use their discretion to de-escalate situations and avoid unnecessary confrontations. For example, if an officer encounters a minor infraction, such as a driver using a cell phone while driving, they may choose to issue a warning rather than a citation. This can help to maintain positive relationships between law enforcement and the community and prevent minor issues from escalating into major conflicts.

Police discretion can also help to reduce the burden on the criminal justice system by allowing officers to handle minor offenses outside of the formal court system. This can free up resources and reduce the workload of courts, allowing them to focus on more serious crimes.

Finally, police discretion can serve as a check on the power of law enforcement. By allowing officers to make decisions on a case-by-case basis, it can prevent abuses of power and ensure that the law is applied fairly and justly.

Overall, police discretion is an important tool that allows law enforcement officers to use their judgment and expertise to tailor their responses to the unique circumstances of each situation. It can help to ensure that responses are fair and effective, de-escalate conflicts, reduce the burden on the criminal justice system, and serve as a check on the power of law enforcement.

16 Advantages and Disadvantages of Police Discretion

advantages of police discretion

What is police discretion provide an example of police discretion? Discretion enables practitioners to use their expertise in training to determine how they should perform well on the job. Discretion is defined the ability to form decisions based on their own judgment. For instance, a police officer may allow one wrongdoer to go with a warning and then decide to arrest another wrongdoer for committing the same offense. For example, most police officers are often lenient with first-time offenders. Not everyone can be a police officer, but everyone can support their local law enforcement officials in some way.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Police Discretion Essay Example

advantages of police discretion

Understanding discretion in modern policing. This essay will examine police discretion, factors that influence discretion, whether exercising discretion is appropriate, and the concerns that administrators have when it comes to police using discretion in the field. For example, in a neighbourhood where a lot of black people are often shot on suspicion of carrying a weapon, statistics can be gathered to compute the change after undergoing such trainings. People with wealth tend to receive more of the benefits of discretion. List of the Advantages of Police Discretion 1. Pros of Police Discretion 1. Police can indeed exercise their discretion in relation to a range of offences.


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Benefits Of Police Discretion

advantages of police discretion

It tends to be a greeting for cronyism. Knowing that the actions of policemen are being recorded brings a sense of ease to someone who worries of what could possibly happen to them. For instance, the officer could misinterpret a statute and make an erroneous arrest. Making explicit systems for authorities to follow gives consistency to officials when they are at work. The daily operations of a Police Department would not be as efficient if this approach was not taken regularly. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO Inc. This disadvantage occurs when an unscrupulous officer decides to use this principle as a way to promote their self-interests.


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Police Discretion: Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons

advantages of police discretion

That implies that law requirement authorities can change the charges that somebody faces by picking a lesser or related one than a serious infringement. This would help the population of Mobile protect themselves from crime and inevitably reduce the crime rate in the city. If an official goes beyond this level, then it can lead to problems with excessive force being applied in a specific situation. When does a police officer have the benefit of the doubt? From the discussion, it is evident that a police department would not be able to function properly if a ban was placed on police discretion. Instead of applying a specific statute in a standardized way, it becomes possible to serve and protect in ways that the law might not envision based on its wording.


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Advantages and disadvantages of police discretion Essay Example [348 Words]

advantages of police discretion

In the detective division, discretion is usually necessary because it enables the detectives to decide which leads to follow in a particular case and which ones to abandon. The daily operations of a Police Department would not be as efficient if this approach was not taken regularly. It is not unusual for an official to be performing their work alone, so situations can arise when this topic can come into play. Discretion gives the police the ability of taking alternative action when it comes to minor matters like public disorder offences. Explicit spaces of concern can get tended to through managerial rulemaking. Cops can utilize an optional measure of power to control a conceivably risky circumstance. But in reality, female officers bring a different set of perspectives and experiences to policing and in some instances, are held to a different standard than their male counterparts.

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Advantage And Disadvantages Of Police Discretion

advantages of police discretion

The advantages and disadvantages of police discretion apply at all levels of law enforcement. This will help achieve either a decline or increase in the number of arrests made against persons of the same type. Although it may seem simple, police officers must decide if a need for discretion is needed or not. Some politicians and activists have seized on the cameras as way to restore transparency to policing. It allows a cop to utilize their preparation for the public great. How do police use discretion? The law enforcement departments and psychology experts should unite in determining the probable causes and methods of prevention.

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Pros and Cons of Police Discretion

advantages of police discretion

Because of the definition of police discretion, these issues can get written off without a beneficial outcome. Even though it has impacted police power, it has given the police the right to use a warrant to get DNA from the suspect, and to use force. In law enforcement there is a need for discretion, but it solely depends on time and place. Police officers can use discretion to determine what charges get filed against a suspect. There are a lot of misinterpreted ideas where citizens believe that they train the citizens like an officer, but this is not the case. It is a principle that gives the police officer the benefit of the doubt. Discretion is applied from the moment someone is arrested, when an officer uses their discretion to make the initial decision to arrest.


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16 Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Police Officer

advantages of police discretion

He should be not be guided by ill motives but rather look for a solution that ultimately leads to the best outcome for all parties involved. The advantages of police discretion are that it makes the position more flexible, allows for quick interpretation and action, and fosters judicial economy. Most police officers go the extra mile for the people they serve, whether they are on-duty or not. Police discretion examples include an officer's decision whether or not to draw their weapon, to make an arrest, to issue a traffic ticket, to perform a search on a suspect, or to stop and assist someone in need of help. There are extreme stressors present in the position every day.

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The Importance and Benefits of Police Discretion in Society

advantages of police discretion

An aggravating factor is an aspect of crime that increases an act's severity and culpability. Each day an officer is on the job, discretion when it comes to job duties appears, sometimes without any warning. Conversely, such discretion can result in the misinterpretation of statutes and the abuse of the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches. If the judge decides on life imprisonment, they can decide whether or not the convicted party will ever get the chance for parole, and after how many years they will be eligible for parole. List of the Disadvantages of Police Discretion 1. Officers can use lethal force with this advantage if they believe a potential offender is threatening the life of a civilian, themselves, or a fellow officer. Confining discretion In the criminal justice area, the main way in which discretion can be confined is by drafting techniques in connection with the legislation of substantive criminal law.

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Advantages and disadvantages of police discretion Free Essays

advantages of police discretion

Find the people who love the work they do and put in the extra hours that prove it. This trend in police work has many advantages such as allowing officers the flexibility to handle each situation in a manner that best fits its individual needs. Police officers are usually in the position of having to make decisions on how to handle a specific situation alone, or without immediate supervision. Preserving life is always the foremost concern of officers and allowing them the ability to create every opportunity to do so is advantageous to the system across the board in providing victims of an offense closure and allowing an offender an opportunity to do something with his life and amend it as opposed to simply ending it. Policing is similar to other care-based professions because of the level of care involved in this process.

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