Police in America - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Police in America

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Police in America Chapter Eight Police Discretion Discretion Definition of discretion Official action By a criminal justice official Based upon that individual s ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Police in America


1
Police in America
  • Chapter Eight
  • Police Discretion

2
Discretion
  • Definition of discretion
  • Official action
  • By a criminal justice official
  • Based upon that individuals judgment about the
    best course of action

3
Factors influencing discretionary decisions
  • Seriousness of the crime
  • The more serious, the more likely an arrest
  • Strength of the evidence
  • The stronger the evidence, the more likely to
    arrest
  • Preference of the victim
  • Relationship between victim and suspect
  • Arrests are more likely when victim and suspect
    are strangers
  • Demeanor of the suspect
  • Disrespect toward the police means arrest
  • Characteristics of the victim
  • Moral judgment of the officer of the victim

4
Factors influencing discretionary decisions
  • The influence of race and gender
  • Black suspect, white victim
  • Behavior of a female victim
  • Police-Citizen Interactions
  • Citizens reaction to officer request
  • No resistance
  • Slight resistance
  • Moderate or high resistance
  • Violent or explosive resistance
  • The neighborhood environment
  • High crime or low crime areas

5
Factors influencing discretionary decisions
  • Characteristics of the individual officer
  • Does not appear to have a major influence on
    police behavior
  • Official Department Policy
  • Powerful influence
  • Informal organizational culture
  • Watchman
  • Legalistic
  • Service
  • Local political culture
  • Community priorities

6
Control of discretion
  • Professionalization of the police
  • Written policies
  • Written rules
  • Policies
  • SOP
  • Civilian oversight

S.O.P.
SOP
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