Introduction to law enforcement

¶ … domestic violence policies evolved in local police departments across the United States. What is the trend in policing today? Discuss the research findings on the impact of mandatory arrest for misdemeanor domestic violence.

In the past twenty or more years domestic violence policies have evolved significantly on both a local and federal level as taking domestic violence seriously has become a hot button topic in law enforcement and other social sciences. Challenges to the historical lack of action on the part of law enforcement toward incidences of domestic abuse have led to an invigoration of standards, especially with regard to the protection of women in marriage and/or domestic partnerships. The trend has so evolved that law enforcement in many places has developed essential connections with non-profit groups that assist victims through shelters and links to aide programs that allow them to start over with employment training, day care and allow access to monetary and food assistant programs that attempt to bridge the gap so they can move away from dependence upon the aggressor and still others organizations, usually court remanded that aide aggressors through anger management training and demand separation in many cases, often through domestic violence orders which legally protect victims by attempting to ensure that the aggressor and the victim not have contact in a physical or psychological sense, often times for as much as a year. (Bohmer, Brandt, Bronson & Hartnett, 2002, p.71)

The laws and policies themselves have also moved toward mandatory arrest on misdemeanor charges where domestic violence is discovered, as the system noted frequent escalation in violence, sometimes ending in the murder of their spouse that could have been avoided had more serious consequences been rendered for previous violent offences. The realization through many historical cases of domestic violence has been an overwhelming sense that domestic violence often escalates and the pressures of the situation, often financial and emotional dependence often render the victim(s) unable to follow through with criminal charges and/or leave the offender. Through mandatory arrest the decisions are taken away from the victim, in the sense that the state or local agency then becomes the plaintiff in a legal sense and the aggressor is prosecuted without the need for the victim to file charges, a traditional legal situation in issues of assault and battery that often ended in the victim failing to act and dropping charges once the most immediate threat was diffused and often under coercion from the abuser through psychological remorse and/or demands and fears of prosecution. The research that helped change the legal policies is steeped in the belief that early arrests were deterrents to future acts of aggression. With this research in hand the state or county can then arrest the primary aggressor and prosecute if need be without the cooperation of the victim. In so doing the thought is that the aggressor will be less likely to offend in this manner against the original victim and others in the future. (Bohmer, Brandt, Bronson & Hartnett, 2002, p.71)

One of the justifications for the reforms discussed above is that they help to change the framing of domestic violence from private family behavior to public criminal behavior (Corsilles, 1994; Robbins, 1999). The history of domestic violence law has been well-documented (Dobash and Dobash, 1992; Schechter, 1982) and it is now widely known that wife beating used to be legal as long as one used a stick no wider than a man's thumb. All along, our legal system has been very reluctant to intervene in what has been considered private family behavior. (Bohmer, Brandt, Bronson & Hartnett, 2002)

The resulting legal situations demonstrate a mixed reaction from those involved, in that some argue that it takes away rights of the victim to drop charges where they see fit, implying that they do not have the maturity and knowledge to make adult decisions, and yet deterrence is the goal. The unintended consequences of the mandatory arrest and no drop policies are of coarse in question, as some incidences of increased arrest of non-primary aggressors has taken place as well as unfounded accusations becoming fruitful in a legal sense, though in general the possibility for the deterrence of future violence has allowed many, in the public and law enforcement as well as in support systems to support such changes. (Bohmer, Brandt, Bronson & Hartnett, 2002, p 74)

Bohmer, C., Brandt, J., Bronson, D., & Hartnett, H. (2002). Domestic Violence Law Reforms: Reactions from the Trenches. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 29(3), 71-78.

Discuss the recent trends in terrorism in the United States, and the impact they've had on American Policing. Are law enforcement officials becoming so focused on terrorism that they've shifted their policing approach away from community policing?

Terrorism has recently become a central focus of traditionally community focused law enforcement agencies as the trends of terrorism have become domestically focused on U.S. territory and U.S. interests abroad. On a domestic level, proof of the ability of both domestic and international terrorists to easily infiltrate and affect acts of terror upon the United States was proven by the Oklahoma City bombing and the attacks on 9/11 as well as by other smaller incidences, such as border crossings by suspected terrorists, later resulting in the uncovering of terrorist plots. The results has been a refocus of law enforcement on issues that surround terrorism, in many ways as an added aspect to an already overburdened task of the protection of the citizens through traditional community policing. (Louden, 2005, p. 757)

In these times of threat and response some important factors about preparing police for role change became apparent. First, there is a need to specify the new reality and determine what is to be done about it. Next, a review of legal and administrative directives would be appropriate. These two items should identify (1) the nature of the problem, (2) the legislated parties responsible for response, (3) the actual parties involved in attempts at resolution, and (4) suggested changes in mandate or practice which would provide an improved conclusion. (Louden, 2005, p 757)

Some would even say that the years it took to build the concepts and policies that surround community policing are in jeopardy as resources are redirected to terrorism prevention and reaction training, especially if the funding for terrorism training and reaction is not allocated to state, county and other local and community law enforcement agencies. Some consider the need to change the community-based policing policies to meet the needs of terrorism prevention, while others see a step away from community policing, for any reason as an error that will likely be costly to reverse. (Louden, 2005, p. 757)

It is evident from the changing climate of threat that change must come to policing as it is unlikely that the funding for an entirely separate police force that is associated solely with terrorism prevention and response. The country must utilize that which is available and these services already exist. The issue is then how to law enforcement agencies acquire the time and resources needed to combat terrorism and aide the federal attempts to protect the nation from future attacks and offenses of such diversity. According to Louden the most important issue is a streamlining of services and a basic understanding of the level of importance of certain issues, with regard to terrorism and crime in general, so that policing agencies will not be split between those who have reallocated all resources toward policing terrorism and those who have pretended as if 9/11 never happened in action.. (Louden, 2005, p. 757)

Louden, R.J. (2005). Policing Post-9/11. Fordham Urban Law Journal, 32(4), 757.

3. Identify the six different theories of police corruption. Explain which theory you believe best explains why police corruption occurs. Discuss steps you as chief of police would take to reduce the potential for corruption in your agency.

4. The Miami-Dade Employee Identification System represents its version of an early warning system. As the materials supplied indicate, officers are identified on the basis of citizen complaints, use of force incidents (using officer reports), commendations they have received, any correctional action already taken, and any change in promotional status. Discuss these criteria. Do you think they are likely to reduce misconduct and improve the quality of police performance? Or do you think they are likely to deter officers from doing important police work? Will police officers avoid taking action because they are afraid of getting a complaint or becoming involved in a use of force incident?

The Miami-Dade police force has implemented a substantially different form of early warning system with regard to the use of unnecessary force by officers as well as other forms of police corruption or simple inappropriate police behavior. The value of the program remains to be seen but will likely, overall prove to reduce negative situations, holding those accountable for misconduct and borderline misconduct accountable for their actions in a proactive manner, i.e. In a way that is based on policies, and is therefore implemented and universally as possible and is also founded in real consequences for action. Though the potential for difficulty with the policy is there the standard is set for the concrete results of removing individuals from positions of physical power who do not have the skills to utilize the power in a safe and effective manner to protect and serve without further victimizing the community.

Though some would argue that such tactics do not take into account anomalous actions, such as in cases where individuals show little sign of abuse potential before incidences occur, but it is clear that these are anomalous and should not be regarded as the most significant risk of the program. Another concern would be that the program will deter officers from performing important tasks as a result of the fear of association with a permanent mark on ones record, as a result of a use of force incident. This may be a real fear, as the system may result in such actions by some, but for most officers the skills they have to adequately deal with any given situation will prevail and their desire to perform their work in the best possible manner will likely prevail.

The law enforcement community has weathered many such changes and just as they have prevailed over the growth or technology and the increased burden of documentation this change toward real accountability will not drive the quality officer from his or her essential work but will likely instead simply change the manner in which they perform their non-policing tasks. Accountability and high standards all over the nation and in deed the world, through such preemptive actions as tracking and documentation of actions have improved policing substantially and continually redirect law enforcement officials and individuals to the ideal goals of the field, to protect and serve. Additionally, such a system will serve to further document those officers who are in the best position for commendation as well as promotion and provide the community with a better understanding of the circumstances and needs of the police force and the community in situations of the threat to peace.

5. Discuss the pros and cons of technology in policing today. Think about technology's impact on police officers, police agencies, and citizens. Will federal funding reductions reduce the ability of local law enforcement to purchase technology in the future? If so, how will this be overcome? If not, what resources do you see as replacing the federal funds?

Technology in policing has created a system that is positively groundbreaking in possibilities and also technically challenged by concerns of cost and optimal training and utilization of resources. Areas of communication and safety for officers and the community have greatly improved the speed at which officers can respond to and appropriately deal with problems in the field, in an area where speed of response can make the difference between a potential problem and a real problem.

The utilization of cell technology as well as dedicated wireless laptops and digital cameras in patrol cars have probably change the face of law enforcement more than anything else in the last 50 years. The field of investigation and potentially conviction has also been substantially altered by technology growth and additionally increased the cost of policing substantially. The police force, to a large degree has become dependent on such technologies while still relying heavily on what many would call "good old-fashioned policing." The pros and cons of the use of technology in policing are many, including the cost training and lastly the social collective fear of the overemphasis of technology as a guiding force for reduced rights and privacy.

The level of technology growth has mirrored that of technology growth in the private sector as the possibilities of information technology seem exponential.

With technology, the face of crime has also changed, requiring policing to adapt to new avenues of crime and prevention, including everything from electronic child predators and electronic call girls to identity theft and electronic fraud. In the collective of communication and internet technology it is likely that the police force will be able to continue to utilize unique avenues of technology for policing, as just like in the private sector physical and intellectual technologies will continue to be improved, with a significant reduction in relative cost, with every new technology.