Police Officers Should Be Legal - 992 Words

Police officers are charged with enforcing the law and there is a level of permissible expectation that discretion will be used when making an arrest. The use of discretion by police officers aid prosecutors in successfully prosecuting a trial. Police officers are the first ones on the scene of a crime and they are the ones who initiate the case of probable cause. Court systems are bursting at the seams with cases and the police officer’s ability to use discretion will help to alleviate some of the backlog. Prosecutors rely heavily on evidence and testimony of police officers when deciding to prosecute a case. There are times when the prosecutor feels that a defendant may have violated the law, but a jury will not convict him of the charges based on the evidence. Therefore, there is a good chance that the suspect will not face charges or lesser charges may be negotiated. According to Siegel Worrall (2015), police officers have the power to release an offender on their own recognizance for offenses such as speeding tickets, minor traffic offenses, disorderly conduct, theft, trespassing, driving under suspension, and possession of marijuana. Furthermore, if police officers have the ability to let someone off with a warning opposed to giving them a ticket, this action will save the courts time. Also, taxpayers are spared the cost of housing someone in jail for an indefinite period of time. According to LaFrance, an officer is able to develop a plan that works withShow MoreRelatedThe Law Enforcement Code Of Ethics966 Words   |  4 Pages The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics has been established as a reminder to law enforcement officers, the trust that the public has placed in them, and the ethical way that they live their lives, both on, and off duty (Bohm, 2010). Many police departments use the basic code as a part of the swearing in ceremony, or at the graduation of a police academy class. While the basic code of ethics is extremely important, the code also contains 10 cannons within in it, and out of those 10, I have found threeRead MoreResearch Assignment : R. V. Grant1371 Words   |  6 Pageshigh-crime area whe re he attracted police officers’ attention. He was stopped and questioned by police officers. Then, Mr. Grant became more suspicious to the police when he started acting very nervous. Mr. Grant was requested name, address and was asked to put hands in front of him. Mr. Grant admitted he was carrying a firearm and weed and he was immediately arrested, searched and advised his legal rights. Legal issues: 1) Was Mr. Grant arbitrarily detained by the police? 2) Did the obtaining of evidenceRead MoreCode Of Conduct For Law Enforcement Essay1465 Words   |  6 PagesOctober 22, 2016 Contents Introduction 2 Police Ethics 2 Corruption 3 Police Corruption 3 Police Discretion in Ethics 4 Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement 4 Types of Police Corruption 4 Ethics in the Courtroom 5 Prosecuting Attorneys 5 Defense Attorneys 5 Ethics in Police Training 6 Closing 6 Introduction Ethics by definition states that it’s the study of morality. Ethics are the basis of our criminal justice system. From the arresting officers who take an oath to serve and protect, to theRead MoreThe Issue Of Police Officers1105 Words   |  5 PagesPolice officers are trained professionals that help keeping the order in our society. To fight crime, is necessary to arrest people that breaks the law. However, to control citizens from breaking the law, is imperative that they arrest those who refuse to abide it. In doing so, is critical that they have knowledge of the science and technology that involves interpreting the law. Nonetheless, a balance between due process and the interpretation of the laws is complicated when we take in considerationRead MoreA Case of Juvenile Justice Essays1116 Words   |  5 Pagesjuvenile offenders or career criminals. The juvenile justice system has many players that facilitate the tools for a juvenile to use an offense as a learning experien ce. The juvenile encounters three important individuals; the juvenile police officer, probation officer and the judge. These three people dictate what happens to the youthful offender depending on his behavior during the juvenile justice process. â€Å"One good teacher in a lifetime may sometimes change a delinquent into a solid citizenRead MoreEthics in Criminal Justice1652 Words   |  7 Pagesleading to my judgment. As in many scenarios, there are conflicting moral rules that could justify different judgments. While police officers are supposed to enforce laws, they are also primarily expected to protect life and property (Nakate, 2011). Public safety is the primary concern of police officers. Therefore, unless a law involves mandatory reporting, then an officer is expected to exercise some discretion involving those laws. The theory behind requiring permits in order to hold a rally isRead MoreBody Cameras Should Not Be Protected From Legal Cases970 Words   |  4 PagesImagine you received mistreatment from a police officer and decide to take legal action against them. The situation becomes their word against yours because there is no evidence to prove the mistreatment you suffered. Not all police officers are out to t reat people incorrectly or use excessive force; however, in the cases when they do, there is usually no way to prove that it happened. There are also cases where people say they were mistreated by a police officer, but it is not true. What if there wereRead MoreFreedom Of Speech : The Boston Tea Party Essay1375 Words   |  6 Pagesof the police today. After the Vietnam war, President Richard Nixon declared a â€Å"war on drugs† in 1971. The consequences of the â€Å"war on drugs† is not often discussed. The SWAT team should not be called for a drug bust. There was an incident where a SWAT team stormed in the house of Jonathon Whitworth, his wife and 7-year old son. The tip that they received said that Whitworth’s house had a large amount of marijuana. The residue that was left on the trash cans was marijuana. Police bargedRead MorePolice Relations In Kenya908 Words   |  4 Pages2017 elections the police organisation has been faced with the need of application of moral choice and or discretion following allegations of use of extreme force against protesters and recorded deaths and injuries experienced from such extreme measures. Section 49 of the National Police Service Act is very clear on the general powers of police officers including the circumstances under which police are allowed to use force. It also stipulates in Section 49 (13) that a police officer who abuses any powersRead MorePolice Brutality Is Not On The Rise1029 Words   |  5 PagesPolice abuse remains a significant problem and not enough reform has been made to prevent it from occurring. Around 1000 people were killed by the police in 2015, and over 100 of them were unarmed. The intentional use of excessive force by a person with authority, which oftentimes ends with injuries and someti mes even death, creates a bad perception of police officers and distrust between cops and civilians. To rebuild the relationship between people and police reform needs to take place. Law makers