Arguments Against Police Discretion

Police Discretion Police Discretion is one of the many tools officers have at hand when making decisions in enforcing the law. Officers have the option to use discretion where they see fit. Police officers have a duty to try and enforce the law to the full extent, but they are able to use discretion in alternative ways of enforcing laws. Police officers have to be flexible in the decision making process. Some cases require a personal and a police decision to come to an acceptable resolution. Many of the outcomes of officer’s discretion can be determine by several factors, included among these are the subjects attitude, the crime the individual is accused of and the individual’s prior criminal history. In some cases; race, or a person’s

Recently, these abuses seem to have been more publicized in the media and more scrutiny in many cases in resent years. Police discretion concerning how to act in a given situation can often be misused by individuals and lead to ethical misconduct. In other cases, insufficient direct supervision can lead to misconduct. Some police officers seem to be more concerned with establishing respect rather than forming bonds with the community that will foster an environment of cooperation. Officer have been accused of misconduct in this area and show little discretion. Many police departments have developed policy and procedures in order to deter this type of conduct. Departments must find a common ground between standards and discretion. Many agencies have developed policies that give police common situations for officers to exercise discretion. Most police officers depend on their own personal ethics to avoid corruption and abuse of power. It is believed that abuse of power is the nature of policing and the police culture. Officers view policing as being the peacemakers, often times policemen don’t really connect with the communities they have the duty to patrol, except to handle calls. Many officers believe that a relationship between the police and the community that they serve is paramount. But many have a hard time with connecting because the officers only seen patrolling the area and not intermingling with the community. Police discretionary powers can be used in ways that show good intentions or bad towards the community. Officer misconduct is readily observed and captured through cell phones, social media, police officer body cameras, and the transparency policies of most