Transcript Introduction to Criminal Justice

Introduction to
Criminal Justice
Policing America:
Issues and Ethics
Chapter Seven
Bohm and Haley
Questions
What do people think of the police? Why?
What affects public attitudes
toward the police?
How accurate do you think the
public’s perceptions of the police are?
Explain.
Public Attitudes Toward the Police
Public Attitudes Toward the Police
Public Attitudes Toward the Police
Public Attitudes Toward the Police
Nearly 59 percent of Americans rate the honesty
and ethical standards of the police as “high” or
“very high.”
Overall, 80 percent of the public have “a great deal”
or “fair amount” of confidence
in the police making your community a safer place.
However, minorities rate both their confidence in
the police and the honesty and ethical standards
of the police lower than
the average of ‘all’ respondents..
Qualities of a Successful
Police Officer

The three I’s of police selection: intelligence,
integrity, and interaction skills

Common sense and compassion

Physical strength and endurance
Issues in Policing
‘Topics of Debate’

Discretion

Stress

Use of force

Police corruption
Police Officer Discretion
and Selective Enforcement
Discretion
The exercise of individual judgment, instead of formal rules, in
making decisions.
Selective Enforcement*
The practice of relying on the judgment of the police,
the police leadership and the rank-and-file officer
to decide which laws to enforce.
* In contrast to full enforcement.
Factors Affecting Discretion

The preference of the
victim.
Departmental policies.

The demeanor of the
suspect.
The relationship
between the victim
and the offender.

The legitimacy of the
victim.

Socioeconomic status
of the complainant.

The nature of the
crime.



The amount of
evidence available.
Discretion:
Major Issues
Domestic Violence
Racial Profiling
What affect does discretion have
on these two issues?
Stress and the Police
Job stress is defined as the harmful
physical and emotional outcomes
that occur when the requirements of a job
do not match the capabilities,
resources, or needs of the worker.
Sources and Management of Stress
Sources of Stress:
Management of Stress

Design of tasks

Mental health therapy

Management style


Interpersonal relationships
Lifestyle including family and
religious support.

Organization change

Community policing

Job redesign

Public safety equipment

Work roles
Use of Force
Excessive Force
A measure of coercion
beyond that necessary
to control participants
in a conflict.
Deadly Force


Tennessee v. Garner
(1985) “fleeing felon rule”
A court decision that put
an end to any local police
policy that allowed officers
to shoot unarmed or nondangerous offenders if
they resisted or attempted
to flee.
Police Brutality What is it?

Abusive language

Unnecessary use of force or coercion

Threats

Harassment

Unnecessary stopping, questioning, and searching of
citizens
Those most likely to have force used against them are
those who show disrespect for the police
once they have been arrested.
Police Corruption
Why is policing so susceptible to corruption?

Police have authority to enforce laws.

Police have the discretion to not enforce the law.



Police receive relatively low pay, but have important
responsibilities.
Police become cynical about the courts’ soft treatment of
criminals.
Society in general is ambivalent about vice.
Controlling Corruption

High moral standards.

Police policies and discipline.

Proactive internal affairs investigations unit.

Uniform enforcement of the law.

Outside review and special prosecutors.

Court review and oversight.