Definition Of Discretion And Police Discretion - 2054 Words

The 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 system as the punishment may not always be the suitable approach of dealing with crimes. Discretion may also permit a police officer to overlook a minor offense giving the offender a warning. But with discretion the officers try not to overdue the law by†¦show more content†¦The police will sometimes pity a situation and offer lectures or what a few officers that I rode along with call â€Å"free therapy session† to some offenders depending on these factors. The situation factor also play a big part when the police make a decision based on discretion. Some of the factors include how serious the crime is, the type of property that is involved in the crime. The police also become more official in the company of other people like the eye witness, an audience, or reporters and press. Last but not least the systems include factors in the society’s structures that come into play when the police exercise their discretion power. Police will also sometimes show tolerance when the courts jails and prisons become overpopulated, and they also will be stricter when the city requires income. Once one understands the whole logic of police discretion one would want to know if such an idea can really have a positive impact on the community or not. There are many advantages of practicing police discretion and the truth is that it ultimately allows the officer to treat people in a caring humane way giving them a second chance without putting them in the system, and improving on what the community and public thinks of the police. If the police were to follow the laws and use full enforcement, they will be seen as unfair by the society and the community would reject and rebel against them which is what is not needed and discretion isShow MoreRelatedPolice Circumspection : The Definition Of Police Discretion?734 Words   |  3 PagesPolice Discretion Police discretion is one of the most complicated topics. The general definition for police discretion is technically up to how one looks at it. Each police officer has their own discretion in handling every situation they go through, and of course there are guidelines on police discretion. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary definition of discretion is still broad but answers the missing parts, â€Å"The quality of having or showing discernment or good judgment: the quality of being discreet:Read 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 MoreDiscretion Of A Law Enforcement Officer873 Words   |  4 Pageswhen it comes to policing there are a lot of grey areas. This is where discretion plays an important role. 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Abdullah and Wells (2011) also highlight Packers crime control model saying that â€Å"A crime control model places high value on efficiency in apprehending and punishing offenders† and â€Å"to operate efficiently the officers must act quickly†. A more concise definition of police discretion is viewed by many law enforcementRead MorePolice Discretion: Necessary or Unfair? Essay1092 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Officer Discretion is defined as â€Å"the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation† (dictionary). Therefore, in the police department, the term â€Å"officer’s discretion† is one that allows a police officer to make a judgment call during several situations. It is an officer exercise that is used a lot more than citizens think. Officer Discretion is not something that can be explained in one simple definition. Officer discretion is variable, depending on the officer andRead More Police Discretion Essay1354 Words   |  6 PagesPolice Discretion Police 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. â€Å"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