CJUS 200 Chapter 7
One of the parties who make the final decision to hire an applicant for the position of chief of police is a committee that includes
the local mayor.
copicide
A form of suicide in which a person gets fatally shot after intentionally provoking police officers.
excessive force
A measure of coercion beyond that necessary to control participants in a conflict.
full enforcement
A practice in which the police make an arrest for every violation of law that comes to their attention.
tech prep (technical preparation)
A program in which area community colleges and high schools team up to offer 6 to 9 hours of college law enforcement courses in the 11th and 12th grades, as well as one or two training certifications, such as police dispatcher or local corrections officer. Students who graduate are eligible for police employment at age 18.
In the context of patrol officer discretion, match the types of law enforcement practices (in the left column) with their descriptions (in the right column). Instructions
Full enforcement - A practice in which the police make an arrest for every violation of law that comes to their attention Selective enforcement - The practice of relying on the judgment of the police leadership and rank-and-file officers to decide which laws to enforce
grass eaters
Officers who occasionally engage in illegal and unethical activities, such as accepting small favors, gifts, or money for ignoring violations of the law during the course of their duties.
According to Ellwyn Stoddard, match the types of police misconduct (in the left column) with their descriptions (in the right column). Instructions
Perjury - Lying for other officers apprehended in illegal activity Shakedown - Taking items from the scene of a theft or a burglary the officer is investigating Shopping - Taking small, inexpensive items from a crime scene or an unsecured business or home Prejudice - Unequal enforcement of the law with respect to racial and ethnic minorities Extortion - The threat of enforcement and arrest if a bribe is not given
public safety officers
Police department employees who perform many police services but do not have arrest powers.
discretion
The exercise of individual judgment, instead of formal rules, in making decisions.
job stress
The harmful physical and emotional outcomes that occur when the requirements of a job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker.
internal affairs investigations unit
The police unit that ferrets out illegal and unethical activity engaged in by the police.
selective enforcement
The practice of relying on the judgment of the police leadership and rank-and-file officers to decide which laws to enforce.
racial profiling
The stopping and/or detaining of individuals by law enforcement officers based solely on race.
three I's of police selection
Three qualities of the American police officer that seem to be of paramount importance: intelligence, integrity, and interaction skills.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the public attitude toward the police?
Whites tend to regard police more highly than do blacks or other persons of color.
The majority of the public have ________ of confidence in the police.
a great deal
Which of the following steps would a police department use to eliminate candidates with a history of criminal activity or drug use?
background investigation
The exercise of individual judgment, instead of formal rules, in making decisions is known as __________
discretion
Under the Model Penal Code, Section 307(2)(B), the use of deadly force is not justifiable unless the arrest is for a
felony.
According to the 1972 Knapp Commission report on corruption in the NYPD, __________ __________ were officers who occasionally engaged in illegal and unethical activities, such as accepting small favors, gifts, or money for ignoring violations of the law during the course of their duties.
grass eaters
The term "_________ __________" is defined as the harmful physical and emotional outcomes that occur when the requirements of a job do not match the worker's capabilities, resources, or needs.
job stress
Public safety officers are employees who perform many police service functions except
making arrests.
When is it justified for a police officer to use deadly force?
- If there is substantial risk that the person to be arrested will cause death or serious bodily harm if his or her apprehension is delayed - If the crime for which the arrest is being made involves an act of felony
Which of the following steps might a police department use to make sure that a candidate is able to meet such demands as running after suspects or climbing over walls?
- Physical ability tests - Medical examination
Which of the following are examples of organizational change that might help police officers better manage their stress?
- acquiring more protective equipment - offering a more flexible work schedule
The three I's of police selection are
- interaction skills - integrity - intelligence
Which of the following qualities are necessary to be a good police officer?
- sensitivity toward minorities - emotional maturity and stability
types of police misconduct
1. Bribery—Accepting cash or gifts in exchange for nonenforcement of the law. 2. Chiseling—Demanding discounts, free admission, and free food. 3. Extortion—The threat of enforcement and arrest if a bribe is not given. 4. Favoritism—Giving breaks on law enforcement, such as for traffic violations committed by families and friends of the police. 5. Mooching—Accepting free food, drinks, and admission to entertainment. 6. Perjury—Lying for other officers apprehended in illegal activity. 7. Prejudice—Unequal enforcement of the law with respect to racial and ethnic minorities. 8. Premeditated theft—Planned burglaries and thefts. 9. Shakedown—Taking items from the scene of a theft or a burglary the officer is investigating. 10. Shopping—Taking small, inexpensive items from a crime scene or an unsecured business or home.
What situations justify lethal force under Model Penal Code, Section 307(2)(B).
1. The arrest is for a felony. 2. The person effecting the arrest is authorized to act as a peace officer or is assisting a person whom he believes to be authorized to act as a peace officer. 3. The actor believes that the force employed creates no substantial risk of injury to innocent persons. 4. The actor believes that: (a) The crime for which the arrest is made involved conduct including the use or threatened use of deadly force. (b) There is substantial risk that the person to be arrested will cause death or serious bodily harm if his or her apprehension is delayed
Factors Affecting Discretion
1. The nature of the crime—The more serious the crime, the more likely it is that police officers will formally report it. In cases involving lesser felonies, misdemeanors, and petty offenses, police officers are more likely to handle the offenses informally. A minor squabble between over-the-fence neighbors is an example of a matter that would probably be handled informally. 2. Departmental policies—If the leadership of a police department gives an order or issues a policy demanding that particular incidents be handled in a prescribed way, then an officer is not supposed to exercise discretion but is to do as the order or policy directs. Thus, if a city has had many complaints about dangerous jaywalking in a certain downtown area, the chief of police may insist that citations be issued to those found jaywalking, even though citations were not issued in the past. 3. The relationship between the victim and the offender—Particularly for minor offenses, the closer the relationship between the victim of an alleged offense and the suspected perpetrator, the more discretion the officer is able to exercise. For example, police officers are not likely to deal formally with a petty theft between two lovers if they believe that the victim will not prosecute his or her partner. 4. The amount of evidence—If officers do not have enough evidence to substantiate an arrest or to gain a conviction in court, they are likely to handle the case in some way other than making an arrest. 5. The preference of the victim—Sometimes the victim of a crime may simply want to talk the matter over with someone, and the police are available on a 24-hour basis. Also, if the officer senses that the victim of a minor assault does not wish to prosecute the perpetrator of the offense, the patrol officer will not make a formal complaint, and the complainant will most likely never know that a report was not made. 6. The demeanor of the suspect—Suspects who are disrespectful and uncooperative may very well feel the full brunt of the law. Patrol officers often choose the most severe option possible in dealing with such suspects. 7. The legitimacy of the victim—Patrol officers are bound to pass some kind of judgment on the legitimacy of the victim. An assault victim who is belligerent and intoxicated, for instance, will not be viewed favorably by the investigating officer. Criminals victimized by other criminals also are seen as less than fully authentic victims, no matter what the offense. 8. Socioeconomic status—The more affluent the complainant, the more likely a patrol officer is to use formal procedures to report and investigate a crime
What are the two main factors that influence how people see the police?
1. Their own previous interactions 2. Interactions of family and friends
police cadet program
A program that provides persons aged 18 to 21 a chance to experience the challenges and rewards of a police career. Often cadets are paid and work part or full time. Cadet programs are designed to assist cadets in transitioning into the position of full-time police officer.
merit system
A system of employment whereby an independent civil service commission, in cooperation with the city personnel section and the police department, sets employment qualifications, performance standards, and discipline procedures.
When it comes to selecting a law enforcement executive, one of the most important decisions is whether to allow
people outside the agency to apply.
__________ __________ __________ is a program that provides persons aged 18 to 21 a chance to experience the challenges and rewards of a police career and is designed to assist cadets in transitioning into the position of full-time police officer.
police cadet program
