Law Enforcement Essays Examples

Law Enforcement Responsibilities and Details

Law Enforcement Function

• Analyze the influence of the criminal justice model on the structure and mission of a local police department. In other words, how would a police department exhibit different structure and procedures under the crime control model than it would under the due process model?

The influence of the criminal justice model on the structure and mission of a particular police department is indeed significant. The criminal justice model is one which would focus on elements such as the crime control model, as opposed to the due process model, which focuses more on the right of the accused and the right of all individuals to have his or her day in court. A range of strategies are typically used to engage in the crime control model with any level of effectiveness. There's a strong level of reasoning to support this mentality as well, and they all generally revolve around taking a strong assault against criminal actions or behaviors which encourage crime and a climate of unsafeness. "The term 'War on Crime' is commonly referred to by politicians and law enforcement as a means to identify, pursue, isolate, and ultimately eliminate the criminal element in our society" (Perron,…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement the Role of

Providing fast and open communication is a crucial component of law enforcement's role in any emergency situation, particular natural disasters in which the circumstances of the danger can change rapidly and seemingly without warning.

In fact, most emergency management situations will require fast responses from law enforcement personnel and agencies. A HAZMAT situation is one such example, in which it is crucial that individual members of the law enforcement agency are well-trained in how to respond to the presence of a hazardous material in order to limit the damage or threat to public safety that such an incident can cause. Though the track record of the transportation industry is excellent, it is a simple fact that accidents with hazardous materials will occur. The primary role of law enforcement in a situation like this is to operate at the first-responder and awareness level of management (Donahue, 1993).

Law enforcement agencies must be able to first correctly identify a HAZMAT threat and then have the knowledge or training to initiate the correct emergency response. This will usually involve notifying the correct emergency agency that is equipped to deal with the type of hazardous material involved at the incident. This role demands the…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement on September 11 2001 Almost

Law Enforcement

On September 11, 2001, almost a decade past, the world was not only shocked by the events surrounding the terrorist actions against the United States, but the basic mission of law enforcement; local, regional, state, federal, and international, has dramatically changed. Since 9/11, the most basic mission of law enforcement has been to both uncover and anticipate potential terrorist targets and attacks and do anything and everything to prevent them. The events of 9/11 showed that the United States was also vulnerable to attack, causing post-9/11 law enforcement to focus more on planning, communication and prevention of any future attack.

One of the most visible paradigm shifts since 9/11 has been that law enforcement has been forced to being reactive to a complete switch -- not quite proactive in planning, execution and development. This ensues several challenges faced by law enforcement. Despite new legislation, for instance, it is difficult to find "a terrorist." Terrorists are not serial killers, bank robbers, or embezzlers -- although they may be all three (Simmons, 2010). Instead, their profiles are often quite banal; and are consistently difficult to find without adequate intelligence. Terrorists may be of any age, ethnicity, religious or educational background,…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement - Interviews Law

Q: Do you think continual education and/or training in police ethics would reduce incidents of police corruption?

A: Again, it depends entirely on the type of continual education and training we're talking about: repeating simplistic ethical training scenarios originally presented in the academy is even less effective with respect to seasoned police veterans than with respect to rookies or trainees. On the other hand, if we're talking about a well-designed program that really reflects the realities of policing and that fundamentally distinguishes legitimate issues of corruption from trivial matters and unrealistic standards that are all but ignored on the street by veteran officers, then yes, I think continual education and training is essential in police ethics just as it is in other police services and functions.

Q: Thank you very much for your time Sergeant, I really appreciate your participation.

A: You're very welcome. I'd let you buy me a cup of coffee right now, but that would violate department ethical policy.

Interview Subject 2 - FBI Special Agent:

Q: Special Agent, thank you for agreeing to this interview under condition of anonymity.

Could you please synopsize your law enforcement background in as much detail as you are comfortable?

A:…… [Read More]

Law Enforcement Interview Imagine Studying the Opinion

Law Enforcement Interview

Imagine studying the opinion of another law enforcement officer. What could one learn from that individual? Does he or she have any recommendations that are worth mentioning? How is discipline issues handled? One will discuss the various questions asked to Daniel Heinze with much analysis.

Why are ethics and character so important in the field of law enforcement?

Daniel (2011) believes that ethics and character is quite important in the field of law enforcement. He said, "From all the years of work I have done in the community, I have seen officers exploit their power by speeding and abusing innocent people" (Heinze, 2011). Recently, in the news, one has exploited another as a means of harming an innocent individual. This person has faced fines and termination from the police department. Everyone in Saline County was disappointed (Heinze, 2011).

One needs to explain how someone gets to work as an officer for the state or county. When he or she applies for a position, a vigorous screening process occurs. The individual goes through an extensive background check, interviewed by a panel, urine analysis for drug testing and his or her doctor's records are examined to see if there…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Is One of

Goal setting techniques also reduce stress, as a sense of purpose is now both part of time and personal management within the police department.

Collaborative policing through electronic communication can also serve as a time-saving device. Police departments can now collaborate to a certain extent without the cost of travel or long telephone conversations. These collaborations can act as a time saving device in cases where specialized advice is required, or where certain databases not available locally need to be accessed (Toch & Grant, 1991, p. 45).

It is important to recognize the various aspects of time management within policing. Both personal, professional and community issues are at stake. The police provides a very important service to the public, and should therefore be at its optimum level of performance. Performance can only be optimized through careful planning and strategizing techniques. These should then include a consideration of needs within the department, personal needs of police officers, and needs within the community. These needs should be addressed in a complimentary manner that would ensure optimum time and cost effectiveness, while minimizing stress within the police force (Toch & Grant, 1991, p. 101). Through community and interdepartmental collaboration, it will then be…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Culture Organizational Cultures Within Law

Law Enforcement Culture

Organizational Cultures within Law Enforcement

Are there organizational cultures within law enforcement that can prove positive and/or negative to an agency? Provide examples that support your thoughts

Today's society is incredibly diverse and this level of diversity also requires that law enforcement organizations incorporate diversity into their organization as well to handle these challenges. By incorporating diversity into the law enforcement organization, it is possible to improve race relations, public attitudes towards police, police professionalism as well as minimize the potential for racial profiling. However, there are many law enforcement organizations that have a great deal of racism within their organizational cultures.

This can definitely affect the law enforcement agency in a variety of negative ways. Even if the policing organization is just perceived as racist then they are likely to receive a different treatment from the public than would be optimal. Joseph McNamara observes that "Learning about the cultures of the communities police serve is not enough. Police departments also have cultures that need to be learned about -- and sometimes changed. (U.S. Department of State)"

Another cultural position that can affect any law enforcement agency is integrity and ethical behavior. Agencies that uphold a strong…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement the Rampart Incident

For example, the hierarchical system of management may not be the most effective method and more collaborative practices might prove more effective in eliminating corruption. The "haphazard," "limited" and "marginally effective" training in ethics must also be improved and targeted toward the current generation of officers (6). The review panel also notes a startling lack of ethics education during police officer training programs (7).

The lack of coherence between the formal ethical codes and the street "cop codes" has downgraded public confidence in law enforcement officers and in the ability of the department to meet the needs of the community. Low confidence in law enforcement is especially prevalent in minority communities. The ethical responsibilities of the police force must be revamped to include a greater awareness of the issues affecting minority communities. Unfortunately, the lack of confidence in the LAPD has meant that local residents are less than enthusiastic and highly cynical about participating in community meetings.

Reference

Report of the Rampart…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement After 911 Since September 11

Law Enforcement After 911

Since September 11, 2001, the United States has faced an unprecedented level of terrorist threat, forcing the U.S. Government to allocate additional resources and energy for combating and preventing terrorism. In the face of every terror threat or attempted terrorist acts against American civilians, many critical observers and media commentators criticize the law enforcement agencies for their inability to successfully combat terrorism. The hypothesis of this paper, however, is that the law enforcement agencies have become better equipped to handle terrorist threats since 9/11 and were able to prevent terrorist attacks against the United States. Statistical data on foiled terrorist plots as well as the new strategies adopted by the FBI, CIA, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies show that America today is better protected from terrorism than ever before. The increasing level of terrorist threat is due to increasing level of willingness on the part of terrorists to strike at the U.S. rather than the inability of law enforcement agencies to tackle the problem of terrorism.

Before 9/11, the U.S. Government viewed international terrorism as a strictly law-enforcement problem, leaving it to the FBI to handle. The FBI record of combating terrorism was…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement and Police Calls Police Services

Law Enforcement and Police Calls

Police Services, Keeping the Peace or City Services Hotline?

As a society, it is collectively understood that contacting the police is a community service available to citizens. The phone number to connect emergency service dispatchers is the ubiquitous, '9-1-1,' digits. While there are additional channels in which non-emergency calls may be routed, the '9-1-1' option is the most memorable and universally known means for a citizen to connect with emergency services.

The types of calls that police respond to are generally categorized into four categories that correlate with legitimate functions of law enforcement and fighting crime. However, there is also a fifth class of requests that falls outside of police duties. This paper discusses the categories of police service requests, as well as considering the less conspicuous implications of prostitution and call-services on law enforcement and crime fighting.

John C. Meyer specifically cites four areas of police service calls as, 'maintain social boundaries, relieve disrupting situations, counter-punching (the caller's own suspicious activities), or obtain emergency response services,' (Walker & Katz, 2008, p. 238).

The public generally assumes that a call to the police will result in the resolution of a problem or nuisance. The first…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Patrols and Gangs When the

Law Enforcement Patrols and Gangs

When the Police Are Called

A call for police response by citizens is a service call, in which the public has an implicit assumption for immediate solutions. The motivations for citizens to call upon police intervention are cited falling into four classifications as; maintain social boundaries, relieve disrupting situations, counter-punching (the caller's own suspicious activities), or obtain emergency response services (Walker & Katz, 2008, p. 238). In addition to the four classifications, the ease of calling '911' can compel citizens to use the police emergency line to communicate disruptions of traffic or malfunctioning city services.

The assumed duty of the police, by the public, is that the cause of the situation precipitating the call will be negated. The public may desire for a resolution, however the police are typically limited to diffusing situations. Although an officer may lack the legal authority to compel a citizen to leave their residence, it is difficult to assert that asking the disputing parties to cooperate in restoring the police is preferable to a potential use of force. If a citizen were to refuse the request of an officer to leave and assist in facilitating the restoration of the peace,…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Technology Do You

Community policing calls for decentralization both in command structure and decision-making. Decentralized decision making permits officers on the front line to take responsibility for their job. When an officer is given more power to create solutions to problems and take risks, they feels more accountable for those solutions and assumes a greater responsibility for the well being of everyone in the community. "Decentralized decision making involves flattening the hierarchy of the agency, increasing tolerance for risk taking in problem solving efforts, and allowing officers discretion in handling calls" (Community Policing Defined, 2008).

I think that even with the availability of more real time information that managers will continue to follow the Community Policing Model. I feel this way because I believe that the Community Policing Model is a good idea. It allows for the officers on the street to have more control over the decisions that they make. It empowers them to do their job and so they feel as if what they are doing really makes a difference, which makes them much more accountable for their actions. If they feel that what they are doing makes a difference then they are also more likely to do a good job.…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement and Hiring Laws Types of

Law Enforcement and Hiring Laws

Types of Policing

Community policing primarily consists of law enforcement through police patrol and presence. Problem oriented policing is very similar to community policing, except that instead of merely patrols actions are directed to address a specific problem. A problem oriented policing response is exemplified by increased patrols at problem traffic intersections or enforcement of pedestrian crossing from speeding traffic. Problem oriented policing is noted to have reduced burglaries in Newport News, Virginia (Walker & Katz, 2008, p. 340). Both community and problem oriented policing is aimed at developing trust and interaction with local communities, in which the contributing social factors that contribute to crime is countered.

The potential shortcoming of community policing is the reality that studies have shown it does not necessarily reduce crime, but does improve the perception of safe neighborhoods (Walker & Katz, 2008, p. 321). In the case of problem oriented policing patrols temporarily reduce criminal activity, but once actions cease the crime returns (Walker & Katz, 2008, p. 340)

Zero-tolerance policing is characterized as crime fighting, in which resources are deployed to counter undesirable activity and is generally an aggressive use of police activity (Walker & Katz, 2008, pp.…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Factors Influencing Hiring of Law

Law Enforcement

Factors Influencing Hiring of Law Enforcement Officers

Government funding agencies primarily dictate the recruitment process for a department, while the local police chief has only a minor influence in the methodology or content of training officers. More recently, departments have taken an active role in recruiting, and the overall education level of the force is on the rise. In recent times, arbitrary and discriminatory restrictions upon officer recruits and hiring have been eliminated, particularly physical attribute parameters (Walker & Katz, 2008). The profession still suffers from a perception that the career necessitates masculine attributes and strict physical demands (Walker & Katz, 2008, p. 131). Within some social groups, the police force is not perceived in a positive light, and as a result may dissuade some from entering the force. However, the make up of the police force is evolving to better reflect the diversity of the communities it operates.

Predicting a formula for the type of candidate that makes a good officer has been attempted many times, however "there is no evidence that a particular type of person is attracted to law enforcement, or that this explains police behavior," (Police Officers Part I: Entering Police Work and Part…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Deviance the Rampart

Both of these cases indicate that police deviance continues to exist, partly because the stakes are so high, and the rewards are so great for officers who successfully steal or become corrupt in the system. Most of the corruption stems from money and greed, and when it is present every day in the officers' lives, it is difficult for at least some to resist temptation. It also seems that officers are paid relatively little in the terms of the risks they take, and seeing so many opportunities for corruption around them may tempt some of them to engage in illegal and deviant activities simply because the opportunities are so great, and risk of being caught much smaller than if they were not on the force.

There seem to be several different methods of controlling this deviance. First and foremost, supervisors and administration need to keep closer watch on officers, especially those engaged in special operations such as the CRASH program in Rampart. Instead of giving officers free reign when they bring in favorable results; they still need to be monitored and supervised, perhaps even more closely. There should be a system of checks and balances on officers, evidence, and what…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement and Age Discrimination

Many of these have been challenged throughout the years.

In fact, here have been a number of cases challenging age discrimination within this more complicated situation. In the case, EEOC v. City of Janesville an individual fought the fifty-five-year cut off age for police officers in that county (Vance 1986). Opponents of the age cut off argued that age discrimination was acceptable only in "particular business," meaning for police officers on the front line of duty, and was not acceptable in cases where police officers had moved from the field into other positions in the department that required less physical strength and fitness capabilities. However, the opposition was shot down. EEOC v. City of St. Paul was another case where opponents of age discrimination wanted to clarify that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act was not to use simple age guidelines as a way to terminate police officers, but all removal should be based on abilities alone, despite of age (Vance 1986). This was similar to another case, Mahoney v. Trabucco, where "the unanimous opinion expressed the concept that within any particular business, specific conditions may exist requiring separate age limitations" (Vance 1986 p 427). Essentially, age cut offs cannot…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Organizational Behavior Organizational

This is known among police as "professional courtesy," and violating it has been known to result in the cited officer's commander's contacting the issuing officer's commander with an (informal) complaint, expected to be addressed by an (informal) lecture on the topic of professional courtesy. Occasionally, a "ticket war" will erupt between neighboring police departments, sparked, initially, by the issuance of summonses by officers from one department to off-duty officers from another that phone calls between their respective commanders fails to resolve. Certain neighboring departments have a long-standing animosity between them, and more generally, state troopers and highway patrol agencies sometimes ignore any notion of professional courtesy toward local police agencies.

Where professional courtesy is observed, it extends even to DUI enforcement, provided no injuries, major property damage, or civilians are involved (either as victims or witnesses). An officer who pulls over an intoxicated driver with police

ID is much more likely to lock up the intoxicated officer's vehicle and transport him home (or call a car service for him) than to treat the incident as a police matter requiring a summons and an arrest for DUI or DWI. In jurisdictions where professional courtesy is usually extended, officers who ignore "PC"…… [Read More]

Law Enforcement Patrolling Kansas City Gun Experiment

Law Enforcement Patrolling

Kansas City Gun Experiment and the Kerner Commission Report

The Kansas City Gun Experiment of 1992 and 1993 illustrates a police strategy that was responsive to the fact that a particular area was responsible for a very high rate of firearm related homicides (University of Maryland; University of Texas, 2012). The intensification of police patrols represents a hybridization of the traditional "law enforcement" and "crime fighting" police functions. The case study is significant because it provided the basis to test the theory that reducing the number of guns in an area would prevent crime, and counters the argument that more guns would result in less incidences of crime (Sherman, Shaw, & Rogan, 1995, p. 2). The most differential aspect of the patrols is that they were mobilized as a preventative measure to a specific type of crime (University of Maryland; University of Texas, 2012). Officers engaged in proactive patrols were specifically seeking and seizing firearms, and were focused only on this duty within the designated area, known as 'beat 144' (Sherman, Shaw, & Rogan, 1995, p. 4).

The Kansas City Gun Experiment was funded through a 'Weed and Seed' grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance as…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement the Police Are

Many times, police officers are attacked or the prisoners themselves are injured during this booking process. The deaths and injuries, specifically of prisoners belonging to ethnic minorities, have triggered conflicts between the police and the community in recent years. Studies showed that the separation of the arresting officer and the suspect appeared to lessen the rate of reoccurrence. The studies recommended an evaluation of procedures and reinforcement (Community Relations Service).

The police also get into trouble with the way they deal with the mentally impaired (Community Relations Service 2003). They need to become more familiar with current-day approaches in the field of mental illness. One way this need can be met is to obtain training from area health professionals on what to do when encountering mental illness cases while fulfilling their police functions. The channels of communication should remain open, upgraded and active among the police, the mental health professional and the local treatment centers. The police need to become aware that not all mental illnesses are permanent or debilitating. Some of those they encounter may appear normal but, in reality, could be experiencing great stress or pressure. Because of the lack of familiarity and training in handling such cases,…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

"According to a 2001 Department of Justice survey, 20% of students aged 12 through 18 reported that street gangs had been present at their school during the previous 6 months. More than a quarter (28%) of students in urban schools reported a street gang presence, and 18% of students in suburban schools and 13% in rural schools reported the presence of street gangs. Public schools reported a much higher percentage of gang presence than private schools." These gangs were often responsible for selling drugs in schools, and used the profits gained from the trafficking of drugs to garner new recruits, soliciting dealers from the student population with the promise of profits. The gangs thus begat violence, just as the users whom they sell their drugs to also begat violence in their attempts to get enough money to buy more drugs.… [Read More]

Law Enforcement Group Productivity as

Second, I would look at whether I had provided my subordinates with a common purpose, and whether I had taken the time to explain that purpose to my subordinates. Third, I would determine whether I had ensured that my subordinates understood priorities, both my priorities and the priorities of my superiors. Fourth, I would examine my methods of confliction resolution to determine whether I had been using a win-win method of conflict resolution or if I had been adhering to older, punitive means of conflict resolution. Fifth, I would examine my policy towards my subordinates; did I listen to them when they came to me with problems, or did I try to offer solutions without really hearing what they had to say. Sixth, I would look at what I had done to promote synergy; whether I had done anything to actively encourage community cooperation with my organization. Finally, I would look again at my personal life, to make sure that I was renewing myself before tackling my job responsibilities. (Franklin Covey).

Without knowing the specific problem, it is actually impossible for me to determine what motivational approach I would use. For example, if the problem was that officers were experiencing…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Is a Different

While it is a felony to flee the scene of an accident, a police office is ethically bound to report the issue if he himself is in such an accident. The same is with drunken and disorderly behavior or destruction of property. In "Choirboys" the police officers would congregate in a park after hours to engage in drunkenness, disorderly behavior and sexual orgies with women. And this park was supposed to be out of bounds and closed to the public after hours.

Loyalty

The introduction in this essay already alluded to the "blue wall of silence" that accompanies every police organization. This is an exclusive fraternity and officers are required to look after and out for each other. In fact, beat cops see themselves as removed from the detective squad, whom they refer to as suits. Certainly, most police hate the Internal affairs squad, though they were once beat cops and/or detectives like themselves. The Internal Affairs bureau is a group that is supposed to oversee ethical breaches and enforce a code of conduct among officers, which is taken to be an affront. Police officers are required to be loyal to each other. This is acceptable, since they often have…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Officers and Gratuities

These gratuitous cookies are simply a show of appreciation to the police force in general and enhance the job satisfaction factor for officers.

On the other hand, the Code of Ethics states that "Officers will refuse to accept any gifts, presents, subscriptions, favors, gratuities or promises that could be interpreted as seeking to cause the officer to refrain from performing official responsibilities honestly and within the law" (n.d.). With this in mind, it would not be acceptable for an officer to accept a free oil change, in exchange for him not reporting the fact that he noticed a stolen car in the back of shop. Even when gratuities are given without a specific 'favor' in mind, it could be implied that that officer will give special treatment to the person at a later date, and for this reason, in general, gratuities should not be accepted.

References

Code of ethics online. (No date). Retrieved July 21, 2006, at http://ethics.iit.edu/codes/coe/Law_Enforcement_Code_of_Ethics.html.

Law Enforcement Officers and Gratuities… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Introduction the Modern Police Forces

Law Enforcement Introduction

The Modern Police Forces

Prior to the formation of the Philadelphia force in 1833, policing primarily consisted of "night watches" and sheriffs recruited from the community (Sabeth). The role of law enforcement was ad hoc in nature to fight crime, night watch patrols, and not an organized or uniform organization. Incidentally, the rural nature of the country did not necessitate an established and robust policing force until the urbanization and industrialization of the 1830s and 1840s. In response to a growing need to maintain law and order on city streets, a significant and visible presence was needed to counter riots and avert crime.

Philadelphia, and later New York, first established polices forces whose jurisdiction and duties were attended twenty-four hours a day (Sabeth). The significance of the modern police force was that it was developed to prevent crime, law enforcement, and maintain order by being visibly present (Walker & Katz, 2008).

Becoming an officer in the new departments was by appointment and answerable to local political bosses, and as a result the force was plagued by corruption (Sabeth). An individual's connections were directly related to becoming an officer, and allying with the correct political faction resulted in…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Corruption Controlling Corruption

Accountability

"Accountability refers to the mechanisms by which both law enforcement officers and the agencies they serve are held responsible for promoting social order, reducing crime, and treating each individual fairly and within the limits of the law" (Chambliss, 2011). The three dimensions of police accountability are accountability to the public, accountability to the law, and accountability to each other (other members of the police force. If one were to look at the most fundamental dimension of police accountability, such as accountability to the public, one would see just how crucial this is: "It both defines and protects citizens' rights while also promoting a collective sense of faith in the larger criminal justice system" (Chambliss, 2011).

The three E's are "Effectiveness -- whether police accomplish what they are supposed to do: A. Do they effectively control crime? B. Are they successful in arresting offenders? Efficiency-- whether they accomplish their tasks in a cost-effective manner. 3. Equity -- whether they accomplish their tasks in a fair manner; do they treat all citizens equally?"(Katz, 2002). The way that the three E's interact is largely a complex process. Sometimes police officers will feel that in order to live up to one of the…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Communications Interoperability of Emergency Service

Law Enforcement Communications

Interoperability of Emergency Service Communications

The number and scope of each individual emergency and public safety agency has resulted in an ad hoc patchwork of communication equipment. Routine daily needs within one agency for clear and concise communication fall short of readiness for large-scale emergencies involving either multiple services or jurisdictions. The current budgeting autonomy of each public service department has resulted in a many agencies with antiquated equipment, while others posses more modern tools, that may sufficiently serve current needs, yet is clearly inadequate for more common emergencies like large fires or traffic pile ups. However, interoperability, the capability to communicate across different gear, radio frequencies, and standardization, both limits and delays the response time, as well as effectiveness, of each individual. When emergencies entail injuries and danger, timely command and communication of resources may be the difference between life and death.

The video, "Why Can't We Talk, When Lives Are At Stake," emphasizes the limitations of public service agencies when communication is constrained by non-standardized equipment. The video highlights the command control apparatus of normal activities, in which department specific gear may be sufficient, against the dynamic needs of emergencies, such as the Oklahoma City…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement How Technology Is

"After September 2001 law enforcement agencies realized the potential devastation and chaos an act of terrorism can cause. The Council was created to improve the ability of the Police Department to respond to a situation and educate the Department and the community." (Richmond Police Department, 2004)

Police departments have had to become terrorist experts. The Homeland Security Terrorism Advisory Council for example is a collaboration of sworn officers and civilian employees with diverse backgrounds. Many of these members are or were leading members of specially trained units or have extensive training in SWAT, bomb technology, military assault, hazmat crime analysis, international terrorism intelligence, strategic planning and many other legal units such as basic attorneys. Through technology and experience, the Homeland Security Terrorism Advisory Council should be able to identify, acquire, plan, and advise on terroristic crisis. With this knowledge base the unit should be able to therefore anticipate, prevent, and effectively respond to any terrorist situation.

Future

The future of policing will continue to be a collaborative effort between police and the communities the aim to protect. "In 1986, the Attorney General's Conference on Less-Than-Lethal Weapons characterized the law enforcement officer's most common tools - the nightstick and the gun…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement - Dubious Value

Moreover, the risks posed by felons with known propensities (or stated intentions) to respond violently to law enforcement apprehension efforts are usually subject to judicially approved no-knock arrest warrants; therefore, they can be excepted from this particular element of analysis.

However, a subject who is forewarned of officers' intention to breach his home's entrance by the amount of time required by knock and announce standards presents the worst case scenario for all involved: he may be insufficiently startled to preclude any response on his part in the manner of a subject who is completely surprised (or fast asleep) at the moment of entry; but he may have just enough time to reach reflexively for stowed or secreted weapon while at the same time being deprived of sufficient reaction time and/or cognitive awareness to perceive the inadvisability of doing so under the circumstances, with deadly results. Stated very simply, a startled or groggy armed felon presents more of a danger to police, to himself, and to anyone else present at the time of a search warrant executed on his home than both a completely startled (or sleeping) subject and a completely alert subject.

Likewise, in the case of accidental execution of…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Policies and Procedures

Hot Pursuit Policy

The hot pursuit policy to be used by this department will follow the definition established by the Model Policy published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for vehicular pursuits which defines hot pursuit as: "An active attempt by an officer in an authorized emergency vehicle to apprehend fleeing suspects who are attempting to avoid apprehension through evasive tactics" (quoted in Kenney & McNamara, 1999 at p. 158). The steps to be followed pursuant to this definition and policy are as follows.

1. The use of hot pursuit in this jurisdiction will be authorized when the apprehending officer has reason to believe that the suspect(s) involved represent a danger to the public irrespective of the seriousness of the originating offense involved. This approach is congruent with the findings of a Bureau of Justice Statistics survey of large law enforcement agencies (e.g., those with more than 100 officers) in the United States that found that almost half (48%) allowed hot pursuits for any offense.

2. It is the policy of this jurisdiction that only officially marked law enforcement vehicles properly equipped with sirens and light bars will be permitted to engage in hot pursuits.

3. Although there…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement - Physical Security

Specifically, perimeter security requires protocols for continuous monitoring of the entire perimeter, especially in conjunction with responding to potential breaches in any given sector (McGee 2006). Grounds and perimeter security also requires scenario-based training in conjunction with non-security-related emergency procedures. Specifically, periodic emergency drills involving building tenants and personnel may present a vulnerability where grounds and perimeter security procedures are not equipped to accommodate larger than normal volumes of foot traffic, such as typically associated with fire drills.

Optimal grounds and perimeter security protocols must include procedures for accommodating the increased traffic necessitated by non-security-related emergency drills without compromising general grounds and perimeter security considerations. For the same reason, information detailing emergency drill schedules must be protected from unauthorized access or unnecessary dissemination in advance (Larson 2007).

Technological Advances:

The primary technological advances in physical facility, building, grounds, and perimeter security relate to computerization of relevant security information and its complete integration. Typical emerging technologies that increase physical security include automatic license plate readers to identify potentially dangerous vehicles before they traverse the perimeter, system-wide integration software capable of automatically cross-referencing multiple sources of security-related information (or agency-specific databases), and personnel identification systems such as finger print readers and iris…… [Read More]

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Law Enforcement Traffic Homicide What

d.).

Training programs for traffic homicide investigators usually include the following areas: speed estimates from kinetic energy, skid marks, scuffmarks and airborne situations, vehicle dynamics and motion, time, distance and motion equations, conservation of momentum calculations, diagramming vehicle damage, vehicle damage analysis explaining thrust, center of mass, overlap and collapse, vehicle lamp examination, tire damage evaluation, advanced photography and video techniques and vector sum analysis (Advanced Traffic Crash Investigation, n.d.).

All of these areas are important in order for an investigator to be successful in traffic homicide investigations.

References

Advanced Traffic Crash Investigation. (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2009, from Tennessee

Traffic Safety Resource Service Web site:

http://www.tntrafficsafety.org/GHSO/description.asp?id=1

Byrd, Mike. (2000). Crash. Retrieved September 13, 2009, from Web site: http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/crash.html… [Read More]

Works Cited:

Law Enforcement - Threat Assessment

For example, the motorized wheelchair elevator of the transport vehicle may take equally long in both directions but the protectee need not be on scene while the elevator platform descends. By delaying the exit of the protectee from the departure location until the transport vehicle elevator is already in the down position and prepared for immediate ascent, the protection agent can reduce the protectee's exposure my more than half in comparison to positioning the protectee outside the transport vehicle while the wheelchair lift elevator descends into the bottom position. The prospect of protecting a wheelchair- bound protectee necessarily adds at least one agent to the protective protocol because an agent (rather than a non-agent assistant or nurse) must control the wheelchair; but the rear position eliminates that agent from any traditional position as a protective shield.

Medical Considerations:

In general, protectees with delicate medical conditions who require perpetual care necessarily multiply the number of protectees by the inclusion of medical personnel. At the same time, medical personnel may themselves represent a potential threat, particularly when new employees replace old employees. Even without primary staff turnover, the protectee with compromised respiratory function requires 'round the clock availability of back-up personnel to…… [Read More]

References:

Law Enforcement Is Not an

The officer can even help a community organize a neighborhood watch. A policeman must show that he or she is part of the community, not an adversarial pressure upon the community. The police oppose criminals and crime, not all civilians: this must be communicated clearly in the officer's demeanor and manner.

Not all of the individuals a policeman encounters are potential defendants. The officer's ability to function depends on his or her qualities of sensitivity and intelligence, rather than enforcement principles alone: a policeman must be able to mediate between two warring neighbors, give aid to a victim after a crime, and know how to preserve a crime scene so that valuable evidence can be collected. Even when dealing with a suspect, a police officer may need to use various levels of force to act in a just fashion: when apprehending a suspect who is nervous and not likely to pose a risk of violence or flight the officer needs to know how to use different techniques, versus how he or she would behave with a potentially…… [Read More]

Law Enforcement and Leadership

Leadership

A comparison of Law Enforcement with Other Professions

Who first comes to mind when you think of a 'Leader'? Is it Alexander the Great? Napoleon? Winston Churchill? Gandhi? Leadership is an interesting phenomenon to consider, from the perspective of civilization, of nations, of political change, and of history. What makes one person a leader while another tries and fails? What is a good leader and how is that different from a 'great' leader? The definition of leadership also varies with the context and with the individual who is defining leadership. The nature of leaders has changed as civilization has evolved, and the leaders we as a society need today may be different from those of a century ago. A national leader is distinct from a local leader, a Boy Scout leader, or a team leader in a sport.

Thus, definitions of leadership vary with the situation. However, they include certain specifics: an emphasis on personal traits, an ability to influence and motivate others, innate talents including personal charisma and/or strength, possibility of reaching/appealing to both the emotional nature and the cognitive aspects of individuals, and the potential and/or ability to encourage others to see beyond self-interest to what might…… [Read More]

Law Enforcement and Technology

Technological Challenges of Today

The objective of this study is to answer as to what challenges law enforcement officials have faced in the light of technological advances throughout the global environment and to discuss a minimum of three problems that such changes have created. This study will answer as to what the recommendations are for future action that could assist law enforcement officials in becoming more effective in the investigation and prevention of such challenges.

Organized Crime and Technology

The work of Bjelopera and Finklea (2012) reports that technological advances have created new challenges for law enforcement particularly in the area or organized crime. This is because "modern organized criminals often prefer cellular or networked structural models for their flexibility and avoid the hierarchies that previously governed more traditional organized crime groups." (p.1) These type of "fluid network structures" make it more difficult for law enforcement to "infiltrate, disrupt, and dismantle conspiracies." (Bjelopera and Finklea, 2012, p. 1) It is reported that globalization has resulted in a revolution in both "licit and illicit commerce." (Bjelopera and Finklea, 2012, p. 1) Technology driven fraud has been incorporated into the capacity of organized crime and this results in their operations having the…… [Read More]

Resources:

Law Enforcement Web Sites Web

7. A search function that allows the use of key words to search the foundation Web site.

8. A contact link to the foundation as well as links to other law enforcement resources.

Negative Components.

1. The search function was not available and no explanation was given nor an estimated date when it would be available.

2. Additional plug-ins were required in order to view all of the Web site's contents.

3. The site map was not prominently displayed.

Recommendations for Improvement.

1. Eliminate the need for additional plug-ins to make the Web site more accessible.

2. Indicate when the search function will be available (or better yet, fix it).

3. Place the site map prominently on the Web site's main page.

Web Site No. 2: U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) at http://bjs.ojp.usdoj. gov/.

Positive Components. Established in 1979 pursuant to the Justice Systems Improvement Act of 1979, the stated mission of the BJS is to "collect, analyze, publish, and disseminate information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government."

1. The Web site's site map is prominently displayed in a tool bar at the top…… [Read More]

Law Enforcement to Secure the

In order to fully safeguard the country's borders, it is necessary to take into account that criminals tend to develop as fast as new technology can be implemented. Hence it is important to improve methods for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, analysis and training, and support efforts to deter not only illegal aliens, but also the substances some of them bring into the country. On the other hand, it is also important to recognize the human element inherent in the immigration problem. Some believe they have no choice but to risk their lives in order to have any quality of life at all.

References

Camarota, S.A. (2004). The High Cost of Cheap Labor: Illegal Immigration and the Federal Budget. Center for Immigration Studies. Retrieved from http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscal.pdf

Msnbc.com. (2010). Obama orders 1,200 Guard troops to border. Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37340747

The White House (2010). Remarks by the President on Comprehensive Immigration Reform. American University School of International Services, Washington, D.C

U.S. Immigration Support. (2010). Illegal Immigration from Mexico. Retrieved from http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/illegal-immigration-from-mexico.html

U.S. Immigration Support (2010b). Illegal Immigration. Retrieved from http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/illegal-immigration.html… [Read More]

Sources:

Law Enforcement on TV

Cops

Law Enforcement TV Shows

The mass media in the contemporary society and for the last few decades has seemed to be addicted to sensationalism. The masses appear to be particularly supportive of stories that have been exaggerated for the simple purpose of captivating viewers' attention. As a consequence, diverse media devices take advantage of the opportunity and produce a series of works specifically designed as a response to people's needs. TV police shows in particular are aimed at providing viewers with stories that are likely to impress them and in many cases certain aspects of these respective stories are fabricated.

Reality TV shows involving law enforcement officers catching criminals have become more and more common in recent years. Most of these shows display both the honorable and risky lifestyle of police officers and the ruthlessness of criminals. However, in many cases it is difficult for viewers not to feel sorry for these so called ruthless criminals. When considering the U.S. TV series Bait Car, it would seem that the show's producers direct their attention toward low-income areas where individuals are more likely to steal a car. This actually demonstrates that the show is more concerned in increasing its ratings…… [Read More]

References:

Law Enforcement Community Relies on the Information

law enforcement community relies on the information that can be obtained from reliable informants. But what problems and issues to law enforcement professionals encounter when using informants? This question and other issues regarding informants will be reviewed in this paper.

Informants and Law Enforcement

In the FBI Web site the government mentions that the courts have long recognized that the use of informants "…is lawful and often essential to the effectiveness of properly authorized law enforcement investigations" (FBI FAQ). That said, the FBI goes on to warn that using informants to help an investigation is risky, and may "…involve an element of deception" or an "intrusion into the privacy of individuals, or cooperation with persons whose reliability and motivation may be open to question" (FBI). In other words, using information provided by a person that the FBI does not have one hundred percent certainty about, carries with it potential investigative hazards that perhaps should not always be taken.

Because of the dangers linked to informants, the FBI's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) reports that "special care is taken to carefully evaluate and closely supervise" the use of informants. The Attorney General of the U.S. issues specific guidelines to the FBI that…… [Read More]

Resources:

Law Enforcement and the Social Media

data collection includes survey form, structured interviews using closed ended questions, and gathering information regarding a sample size appropriate to analyze and draw conclusion on the basis of the research results. The statistical techniques are used for data analysis to analyze collected data in quantitative research methods. The qualitative data is gathered through case study method and open ended question of an unstructured interview from notable sample. The qualitative methods of research are also equally popular in understating the ignored aspects of a topic. The research question discussed below is addressed on the basis of qualitative and quantitates research methodology.

Question 1:

What is the role of social media in affecting law enforcement?

The usage of internet has increased over the past years. Internet technology has encouraged a revolutionary change. Starting form the desktop computers, laptops, handheld computers, to a variety of internet enabled cell phones has created a huge impact on technology as well as on internet. The human requirements for social and personal interactions has also transformed by extensively using internet. The inventions of social media for university students has not only taken an advanced turn but also taken a number of societalgroups into its folds. However the…… [Read More]

Bibliography:

Law Enforcement Levels

branches within the law enforcement field. All these branches have a range of jurisdictions but have a common purpose of enforcing laws that have been passed by legislatures and the protection of the American citizens and those who live within the American borders. There are different law enforcement agents everywhere and they are interested in what one does, the particular agents present depend on ones location and what they are doing. This paper will look at three law enforcement branches; local, state and federal law enforcement. It will look at what thee three entail and how they differ in terms of jurisdiction and authority.

At the local enforcement agencies, the commonplace and frequently experienced law enforcement agency are municipal police officers. These police officers represent villages, towns and cities. A striking difference between these local officers and those found within state and federal level is that they offer the first enforcement front to all the criminal laws. They have chiefs who might be appointed by mayors and some instances they are elected into office. Their effort is boosted by several support staffers such as dispatchers, detectives and jailers. Their work is to ensure that citizens are protected as well as…… [Read More]

Works Cited:

Law Enforcement and Organizational Structures

Organizational Structure

Mission Statement

The goal of the Sheriff's Department is to protect and serve all people in accordance with the law, and with the ultimate goal of creating and maintaining a high quality of life in the community. High quality of life is in part defined by respect and tolerance, as well as safety and order. To serve the primary goal of promoting a high quality of life, the Sheriff's Department will work with any and all community organizations as willing partners. The Department values cooperation, compassion, and communication. All stakeholders will be treated with respect, and in accordance with egalitarian values and social justice. Discrimination will not be tolerated, either within the Sheriff's Office or in the community at large. Ultimately, the laws of the county, state, and nation are our primary provision. The preservation of human rights and liberties is also our mission.

Part 1-Structure

Formal and informal organizational structure

Organizations are basically formatted to be in two categories, the formal and the informal organizational structures. The formal organizational structures are intentionally designed with the aim of having the people working within the organization have cohesiveness in undertaking their duties with the ultimate aim of meeting the…… [Read More]

References:

Law Enforcement and Theories of Crime and Criminals

Schools of Criminology

Schools of Thought

Classical School introduction: This approach to criminology holds that basically, people will do things based on whether it is helpful to them and they will look after their own self-interest first. In other words, if a person is penniless and hungry, he will steal food because it is in his own self-interest to eat and stay alive, notwithstanding his crime

Classical School summary: In the 18th century philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that existing theories of crime (God or the devil determine what humans will do) were not relevant. They put forth the alternative idea that because humans have free will, they choose which behavior they will follow. Most humans respond to pleasure and pain, and if crime brings a person pleasure, that's what he will do; but being hungry can bring pain so a person will commit a crime to avoid hunger. The purpose of punishment is not to give society a chance to gain revenge, but rather punishment is a way to prevent people from committing crimes. Laws aren't written to take away freedoms, but rather they are written and published so punishments are known in advance of crimes…… [Read More]

Bibliography:

Law Enforcement an Exploration

United States, the scope of responsibilities of a sheriff varies across states and counties. The sheriff is most frequently a chosen/elected county official, serving as the arm of the parish court or county. However, some cities, a good example being the Commonwealth of Virginia, have a sheriff's office with dual purpose as the arm of the city jail and court. The sheriff can also perform court duties. These may encompass such functions as managing the city or county jail, providing courtroom security as well as prisoner transportation, assisting in serving warrants including serving process. Within urban areas, the sheriff may be constrained to those duties. Numerous other sheriffs as well as their deputies may serve an area as the main police force. In addition to also having jurisdiction over the whole county even in what some may consider more urban areas (Sullivan, Rosen, Schulz & Haberfeld, 2005, p. 123).

In the U.S., there can be probation officers in varying levels: the city level, county, state level, or federal level, anywhere there exists a court of able jurisdiction. From the time when the abolishment of parole began in the federal system by the year 1984, there are basically no parole officers…… [Read More]

Law Enforcement and Cyberstalking

Cyberstalking

Cyber-Crime in a New Age of Law Enforcement

With the new introduction of the online sphere, law enforcement today faces unique challenges those previous generations could never even imagined. The internet allows the ability to create an online presence that has virtually no relevance to the real world character of the user. People can now create an online presence with the ability to construct a range of pseudonymity that was never before possible (Gyorgy, 2002). Therefore the person that you think you are communicating with may be a different person altogether.

Furthermore, people can set up a range of different personalities and have multiple identities online that they can use for a range of malicious activities. For example, it is possible for an elderly man who has perverted tendencies to portray himself as a young school girl on online chat forums. In these arenas there is seldom any verification process to unsure the users are who they say they are. However, the use of such pseudonymity often leads people to quickly imagine all the negative and dangerous uses of these fake profiles. Although most of these profiles can be harmless, others can be used for ill intent.

The users…… [Read More]

Sources:

Law Enforcement and Job Analysis

Corrections/Law Enforcement HR Website

When I searched for the occupation correctional officer (CO), after using the 'visit' button next to the "My Next Move" tab, a list of matching and similar occupations appeared rapidly ("I want to be a & #8230;," n.d.). At the top of the list was a link for job information about COs and jailers. Some preliminary information was presented to the right in a columnar format, which is apparently intended to give an extremely short overview of job outlook, the environmental soundness of the career, and whether training is required. When I clicked on the link for COs and jailers, I was immediately taken to a new webpage providing more detailed information about these three criteria and other job-specific information. Navigating my way through these three webpages took less than two minutes. My experience of navigating to job information about COs using the O-Net Resource Center was fast, intuitive, and informative.

I have one minor complaint about the job information provided on the final information webpage for COs. The outlook, environmental soundness, and training requirements are presented at the bottom of the page, so I was required to scroll down to get more details about the…… [Read More]

Works Cited:

Law Enforcement Priorities and Public Sector Leadership

Undocumented Immigrants in Gainesville

The city of Gainesville has a population of about 54,000 and of these, approximately 3,200 are illegal aliens. The law enforcement community in this city is charged with protecting these undocumented aliens on the one hand and enforcing illegal immigrant laws on the other. To the extent that undocumented residents are afraid that the police will enforce the latter may be the extent to which they are discouraged from seeking help from the law enforcement community when they need it, exacerbating existing crime levels. Conversely, the extent to which law enforcement authorities fail to enforce illegal immigration laws may be the extent to which they are viewed as being malfeasant in the prosecution of their official duties. To determine the optimal course of action for law enforcement authorities faced with these conflicting priorities, this paper reviews the relevant literature including a discussion of so-called "sanctuary cities" and "sanctuary counties." Finally, a summary of the research and important findings concerning these conflicting responsibilities and the optimal course of action law enforcements authorities should take to ensure they are fulfilling their official responsibilities to the best of the ability and in the best interests of the community.

Review…… [Read More]

Law Enforcement Strategies in the US

Policing Alongside Native Americans

America is the most cosmopolitan country in the world with virtually every race present. It is described as the new land because of the recent influx of foreigners who traveled to the country. Their increased numbers over time have made the minorities lose their initial dominance. In this sense, it is now a tussle of the foreigners and the Natives over who controls the affairs of the country. In the modern days, the immigrants have come to take over the control of the American affairs and as such, they have managed to lead a clear path of leadership away from them natives. However, the Native Americans remain a distinguished group concerned with the political realignments happening in the country. They act as a swing vote for all the individuals who need elective posts. On matters security, it is technical conducting policing along these native zones as they are in their particular groupings. The main issue with this kind of policing is in penetrating their well-developed structures characterized by organized chiefdoms. This paper discusses the ways and difficulties evident in policing these areas.

Tribal chiefdoms

The American Native communities live within groups that are managed by a…… [Read More]

Benefits of GIS Applications for Law Enforcement

Law Enforcement

Benefits of GIS Applications for Law Enforcement

Resources

Police methods have changed dramatically around the world in recent years due to the advent of geo-positioning and improved computer-aided mapping techniques. As has happened throughout the history of policing, law enforcement officials have always tried to use new scientific research to their benefit. Since the object is the safety and comfort of local citizens, a major aspect of the mission for police departments is to always use the most up-to-date methods for the detection and apprehension of criminals. With the advent of computer-aided geographic information systems (GIS), police now have the ability to approach crime in an entirely new way.

According to Rich and Shively (2004) "geographical profiling was "born" in 1980 when a UK police investigator analyzed the locations of crime scenes of the Yorkshire Ripper and computed the "center of gravity" of the crime scenes…." This beginning has been debated by different people, but the fact is that GIS has been an aid to police for a number of years. One term that is used to explain the gamut of GIS methods is geographic profiling. Un attempting to give a comprehensive definition of the term Rich and…… [Read More]

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22 Federal and State Law Enforcements Role to Enforce Computer-Based Crime

Law Enforcement and Computer-Based Crime

Before beginning any discussion regarding the consequences of employee monitoring, it is crucial to first develop a working knowledge of precisely what this blanket term actually entails. Simply put, employee monitoring is deliberate surveillance by an employer which is used to track various behaviors, such as a worker's visitation rate to certain websites, as well as to transcribe and archive written correspondence in the form of emails while continuously observing their actions. It is the responsibility of each employer to decide where their business will lie within the gamut of employee monitoring philosophies, with many companies simply banning visitation of "cyberloafing" sites such as Twitter and Facebook while others methodically scan and document each touch of a workplace keyboard. While there are literally hundreds of types of employee monitoring available to businesses, from transparent voluntary programs to the most invasive reconnaissance campaigns, almost all major American corporations elect to make use of the practice in one manner or another. The majority of scientific study as to the efficacy of employee monitoring suggests that companies have long been disposed to track the behavior of those in their employ, and "a 1996 survey by the Society for…… [Read More]

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