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What are the roles of police
What are the roles of police
What are the roles of police
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It seems everyone in the U.S. is familiar with the concept of the police detective, the almost god like poster child of a police department, tasked with solving the particular crime under investigation. Perceptions about the role of detectives in the criminal investigative process are heavily influenced by popular media portrayals (both reality-based and fictional), which extol the abilities of the detective to take the complaint of a crime, initiate an investigation, gather sufficient facts or evidence, identify the offender, justify an arrest and bring the offender to trial. Detectives themselves are often portrayed as eccentric heroes with a gift of intuition that allows them to link otherwise seemingly mundane events and items into a complex
The RAND Study pointed out that investigative work from a detective's position is time-consuming where as a responding officer gets the call handled more quickly. The RAND Study details that it takes time for a detective to locate a victim/suspect, prepare a case file for prosecution, time spent in court, traveling that is required within the scope of an investigation, and attaching any analysis to the case file that has been finalized, not to include the disposition of that particular case (Hoover, 2014).
In the year 2014, law enforcement in the United States estimated 1,165,383 violent crimes reported (“D2014VC”). Imagine the number of people needed to get to the bottom of all of those cases! There is an abundant amount of Americans solving mysteries every day to keep others safe. Crimes are committed all around the United States at every second of the day! In John Grisham’s The Pelican Brief, he displays a firm relation between investigators and lawyers through the Criminal Justice System of acquiring suspects and evidence, indicated in the book with an exploration of the scandals of Supreme Court Justices Rosenberg and Jensen (Grisham).
The general public of Australia has a common aspect when associated with their sources of knowledge of crime. Many would agree the media, especially newspapers and television, are their most frequent and well known source of crime activity. The media updates society with data about the extent, frequency and types of crimes committed (Moston and Coventry, 2011, p.53). Studies highlight our grasp of crime is majorly derived from the media, with a lack of exposure to police statistics or victimisation surveys. There is a concern in correlation to this fact since the media has inconsistency and inaccuracy in reporting crime. Due to this, the media can misrepresent victims and perpetrators, downsizing them to recognisable stereotypes (Moston and
Walker and Katz (2013) explain that television and movies commonly portray detective work as exciting and dangerous. In addition, Hollywood detective themes include (but are not limited to) detectives who shoot their guns constantly. This happens so often, the viewer is often left wondering how the officer still has bullets left to shoot. In contrast, actual detectives rarely, if ever, shoot their guns (Walker & Katz, 2013). Hollywood also portrays detectives with superhero-like abilities whereas every crime is solved, and it is done so by the end of the episode. In reality, detective work is a long and drawn out process, and not every case will be solved. Hollywood’s over-glamorization of detective work can have its downfalls. For example, when the general public misinterprets actual detective work with what they see on TV, rifts may be
These changes have manifested both positive and negative reverberations in the way we perform our job. Police officials have contemplated for years over the key to maintaining a positive image for their organization. Unfortunately, several incidents in the past years have altered society's perception of police in some communities. Police in America are no longer strangers to innovation born of scandal.
Myths are defined as stories that are made up by society that symbolizes values, ideologies and beliefs (Phillips, 2016). Myths are used by all cultures; myths are stories that are told to support social customs in societies. Crime myths are also created by telling stories (Victor Kappeler & Gary Potter, 2005). Myths about police officers have created false imageries of officers and their day-to-day jobs. Myths about the police have played an important role for decades now (Phillips, 2016). Majority of police myths are created by both the media and the police themselves. This paper will review Victor Kappeler and Gary Potters summary of police myths and outside sources will be used to support the myths listed by the authors.
In a world filled with criminal shows on television, it is difficult to get an accurate idea of what it truly means to be a police officer or a detective. It seems easier to absorb the analysis they present and simultaneously solve the case; however, is that truly how it works? Criminal Minds is one of the most popular shows on television today. This is due to the way it portrays the FBI in their endless search for villains unfound and rampant. Law and Order portrays the entire process of find, justifying, and incriminating offenders. Another show similar to Law and order is 24. 24 goes through an entire day in one, twenty-four episode, season. It does this in great detail to show the audience how they arrived at conclusion of who was guilty.
The media, both in the mainstream and alternative sources, determine how the community view crime and how it represents the victims of crime, criminals and law enforcement officials. Media organisations have arguably become the main source of news, entertainment, recreation, and product information in society. For many people, media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, social media and television broadcasts informs viewers about events that affect their everyday lives. This essay it will explore the many variations of how crime is mispresented to society through mass media organisations.
Recent advancements in technology have had a huge impact on the current criminal justice system. These new developments have made it easier for those in the field to track down criminals and help provide better evidence to support their cases. Things such as fingerprint databases, DNA testing, GPS tracking, and many other things have made it easier for prosecutors or defendants to prove their cases in court. This is very beneficial because with this new wave of technology officials are now able to provide more reliable and credible evidence in court. This current upsurge of technology will help benefit a lot people in the field. People such as law enforcement, falsely accused criminals, prosecutors, defendants, judges, the list just goes on and on. Technology has been has had a major impact on the criminal justice system, it is now been made easier to track down and catch criminals and made it so that the evidence provided at court is more reliable and credible.
“History repeats itself”, but not all history is good history. We live in a new age where technology influences society more than anything. Between the internet, social media, movies, television shows, video games and printed material(s) there isn’t a way to be uninformed. Although, the information fed via different outlets may be flawed or false, society is still being encouraged especially when it comes to crimes that are being committed, potential crimes or crimes that have been committed and encourage others to do the same. Crimes that have encouraged others to do the exact same are called copycat crimes.
The mass media is a vehicle for delivering information and to entertain. But implications that the media do more harm than good concerning its practices and its effects on the public. The two main categories of mass media are print media and electronic media. Although they overlap in some areas, they differ mostly in the subject matter they cover and in their delivery methods. Research had been conducted in using both these forms to gauge the impact that each one has on the public. Print media tends to be more factual based whereas electronic media tend to focus more on visual aids to help relay the information. The public’s fear of crime has an impact on the public agenda of policy makers. Fear of crime not only affects individual but may also have an impact on the laws that affect crime control and prevention.
1. In Chapter 3, Surette explains the link between the media and criminal behavior. According to Surette, there have been several difficulties in examining the relationship between the media and criminal behavior. (Surette, 2011) Surette explains that they are several ways in which media influences crime.
In order to more effectively investigate a case, a detective must possess certain personal characteristics. Detectives should have intellectual qualities, but great intelligence is not needed. Effective investigators obtain and retain information, apply technical knowledge, remain open-minded and objective, and use logic when attempting to solve a case. All decisions pertaining to a case should be based on facts and not be opinion based, but the results of an investigation should not be based on only one fact. Detectives rely on skills acquired by experience, study, and observation. The job requires highly-developed skills, perhaps innate abilities to collect and evaluate case facts.
Today, technology has affected our global surroundings in a number of ways. Technology has created a more advanced society and economy. We use technology in every aspect of life today. New innovations and technology helps create a safer atmosphere and reduces the rate of crime. Technology is the usage and knowledge of techniques or is systems of these things. Usage of technology in the criminal justice system is not new but more apparent today. Technology in criminal justice will continue to challenge us to think about how we turn information into knowledge. Due to new technology, criminal investigations are able to maintain and improve their processes. Forensic science, DNA, other and future technology has all had a tremendous impact on criminal investigation and its process.
Why are policemen the people society fears most but the first ones they run to when in desperate need of help? Society has been built upon the basis that when any type of crime occurs, it is the policemen’s problem to solve. It seems to be a typical and habitual response-call 911 and let them come to rescue; but when a policeman is on the opposite side of the spectrum, that thought process quickly changes. Policemen are commonly referred to as superheroes; some refer to them as the villains, and the rest of society thinks there must be a way to figure out the truth.