Criminal justice course discussion topics from chapters three and four

Law enforcement and corrections can be influenced by several external threats. These consist of external communication gaps and many environmental influences. One of the key external threats that impacts both corrections and law enforcement is politics. In delineation, politics is the art of wielding one's authority and power over the government or public affairs. In particular, political action can give rise to the imposition of one's interests within the government, in positions of leadership within the government, with regard to the control over resources, as well as in terms of holding government office. Politics influence law enforcement and corrections by impacting the individuals that will hold different positions in criminal justice, for instance the police, judges, prosecutors as well as correctional executives. Law enforcement, administration, and corrections are linked with politics on various extents and levels. Prevailing political philosophy and ideology influence the structure, organization, as well as anticipation of a society's criminal justice organization. As a result, these institutions impact the manners in which criminal law is implemented and administered and corrections put into place (Law Library, 2017).

Police agencies are part and parcel of the law enforcement. In a police agency undertakes its law enforcing operations in a political system that is corrupt, then it becomes just about unmanageable to eradicate and abolish the corruption within the police agency. In particular, it has been acknowledged that taking into consideration that police departments are the enforcement arm of government, the correlation between the police department and the administering executive branch of government have to sustain poise of balance of political accountability and operational autonomy. For this reason, police reform has laid emphasis on eradicating and or at least curtailing the impact that politicians have over police organizations. Nonetheless, the disjointed or devolved model of policing in the United States of America lays emphasis on the local qualms and local control of the police. Whereas the epoch of reform of policing supplanted the political support system with the civil service and distinction systems, the disjointed nature of policing does not permit for total eradication of political impact over the police. Moreover, combating of crime and the prevailing community policing model have been prevalent abuses by politicians (Law Library, 2017). Needless and pointless political wrangling over criminal justice aspects and issues that can take place when winning political skirmishes comes to be more significant to public officials than taking control of crime and attaining justice, can damage the justice process. Moreover, severe issues for the general public together with the criminal justice system can emanate from involving politics in criminal justice, a process in which political leaders seize prospects to employ criminal justice issues to augment their individual power, obtain elective positions and also increase their level of popularity.

Week 3 Discussion

The state in consideration is the State of New York. One of the dominant cultures of the state correction facilities and institutions in this state is that of violence. According to Rose, juvenile detainees in these institutions are subjected to routine violence not only by other inmates but also by correction officers within the institutions. For instance, statistics indicate that in 2014, more than 40% of these juvenile detainees were subjected to the use of force by institutional guards at least once, and were in need of medical assistance for a significant figure of 450 times (Rose, 2014). In addition, according to a report from the New York Times (2015), the similar culture of violence has infested and spread in the state prison system, where guards beat inmates for sport with the knowledge and understanding that they will be protected by their union and therefore have job safety at the end of the day.

There are recommendations made for institutional culture changes that can be implemented in the State of New York. One of the key aspects encompasses the integration of the vision, mission and values of the institution into every day operations. Since the values of the institutions are to provide safety for all inmates and proper correction and rehabilitation, this should be inculcated into daily operations of the organization. Another aspect to have the management operating as a team. This way, they will be able to build each other's strong suits, having honest perspectives and also challenging each other to attain the best outcomes. In addition, the management together with other independent organizations should ensure that the institutions and their officers adhere to policies and procedures put in place and that there is constrictive questioning and criticisms (Flaherty-Zonis, 2009).

Week 4 Discussion

Different police departments try to engage and foster their community and one way of doing so is through the different activities or events planned to enhance community relationships. The police department chosen for this particular discussion is the Manhattan Police Department. The following is a numbered list of each activity and event for the organization.

1. Open school space for community purposes

2. Open precincts for community purposes

3. Outreach programs with religious institutions

4. Hold police-community relations town hall forum every specific period of time, such as annually or semi-annually.

5. Have children participate in events such as police department explorers program (Manhattan Borough President, 2015).

Communication has a positive impact on agency operations in enhancing community relations. Having aspects such as forums within the town hall makes it possible for the police department to hear opinions, complaints, criticisms and praises from the community to understand what is not only being done wrong but also what is being done in the correct way. In addition, it also fosters a positive perception for the police department. Most areas, the police are perceived in a negative manner and having such departments can create a health relation between the two parties. Moreover, through events such as explorers program for children and youth, they can understand what the police department does and create interesting in joining the police department in the forthcoming periods.

Week 5 Discussion

There are legal issues on agency operations in using body cameras. One of the effects is the lack of extensive interpretation of the law. For instance, what is considered to be a determining factor as to whether the conversation is private? In particular, this is left to the court of law to seek the subjective purposes of the parties to the conversation in addition to different aspects bearing on the sensible anticipations and intent of the parties. Another impact is the consideration as to whether the requirements of the Privacy Act are applicable in all police contacts in which these fitted body cameras are employed. There are impacts of fiscal issues using body cameras in law enforcement and correctional organizations. One of them takes into account the considerable back-end expenses linked to body camera systems which, if unforeseen and unsuspected, could be disregarded by the sanctioning and financing authority and which could render the police department into considerable civil liability. In addition, there is the impact of human resources issues using body cams in law enforcement and correctional organizations. In particular, there are major workload increases that will take place owing to body camera executing. This will necessitate additional civilian workforces in order to have the capacity to store, catalog and manage huge amounts of video data, and to recover and process individual parts of video on request. This implies that the police department will be required to hire additional individuals (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2017).

Week 6 Discussion

Having a police force that racially and ethnically mirrors the populace of the community can enhance relations and associations between the police officers and community residents, dissipate and dismiss distrust and communicate more efficaciously. There are different recruitment strategies that can be employed to hire Hispanic officers in Long Beach in Los Angeles, which as a large Hispanic population. In particular, this community accounts for just about 5.8 million Latinos, representing 11% of the entire Latino population across the nation (Brown and Lopez, 2013). One of the recruitment strategies that can be employed encompasses the use of community liaisons in order to reach prospective recruits. In particular, this approach can have a significant influence on the recruitment of diverse populations. It is not a must for these liaisons to encompass direct recruitment endeavors but rather can take into account personnel undertaking community outreach, particularly with targeted populations. Therefore, the force can utilize their departmental personnel and also community representatives for its recruitment endeavors, with inducements and enticements for community ambassadors to assist in recruitment (Wilson, 2014).

A second approach that can be employed by the force is the use of internet media and also electronic media. According to Wilson (2014), augmenting the use of the internet has ensnared police departments seeking to appeal to officers. In particular, internet presence ought to make the most of department resources. Moreover, the use of the internet will aid in recruitment for the reason that it decreases the costs incurred by the police force. An additional approach encompasses branding of the police department and the profession in question. Imperatively, the advertising message of a police department within a community comprises its brand and identity for candidates. For instance, in this case, having an internet-based recruitment video sequence, an assortment of images purposed to present information to applicants comprising of a diverse workforce, will nurture a deep, emotive supplement to the department and its assumed values. Therefore, this will delineate diversity and prospects for advancement by minority applicants increasing the number of potential recruits (Wilson, 2014).

References

Brown, A., Lopez, M. (2013). IV. Ranking Latino Population's in the Nation's Metropolitan Areas. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from: http://www.pewhispanic.org/2013/08/29/iv-ranking-latino-populations-in-the-nations-metropolitan-areas/

Bureau of Justice Assistance. (2017). Legal issues surrounding the use of body cameras. Retrieved from: https://www.bja.gov/bwc/pdfs/Legal-Issues-Surrounding-the-Use-of-Body-Cameras.pdf

Flaherty-Zonis, C. (2009). Corrections Systems: Creating Positive Culture and Dynamic Leadership. Corrections. Retrieved from: http://www.corrections.com/news/article/22540-corrections-systems-creating-positive-culture-and-dynamic-leadership

Law Library. (2017). Political Process and Crime - The Politics of Law Enforcement and Administration. JRank Articles. Retrieved from: http://law.jrank.org/pages/1695/Political-Process-Crime-politics-law-enforcement-administration.html

Manhattan Borough President. (2015). Improving Police Community Relations. Retrieved from: http://manhattanbp.nyc.gov/downloads/pdf/NYPD%20Town%20Hall%20Report.pdf

New York Times. (2015). Horror Stories From New York State Prisons. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/18/opinion/horror-stories-from-new-york-state-prisons.html

Rose, J. (2014). 'Culture Of Violence' Pervades Rikers' Juvenile Facilities. NPR. Retrieved from: http://www.npr.org/2014/10/15/356165968/culture-of-violence-pervades-rikers-juvenile-facilities

Wilson, J. M. (2014). Strategies for Police Recruitment: A Review of Trends, Contemporary Issues, and Existing Approaches. Law Enforcement Executive Forum.