NCJ Number
153476
Journal
American Journal of Police Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: (1994) Pages: 1-20
Date Published
1994
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Police policymaking is examined with respect to the context in which it occurs, its role, and the need to authorize discretion rather than strictly control police officers' behavior in many areas of policing.
Abstract
Because conventional wisdom holds that police agencies must maintain strict control over their officers, the growing complexity of policing has been accompanied by a tendency to regulate officers' actions excessively. Creating complex policies, procedures, and rules has become the customary method of controlling police discretion. However, police responsibilities vary in the control required. The crucial task is to identify police behaviors that should be value-driven and those that must be control-driven. Thus, police functions such as use of deadly force and vehicle pursuits involve high risks and require extensive policies, training, and overall guidance. Other activities such as the handling of domestic assault cases require structured guidelines. For these activities, police officers should receive training in the options available, with emphasis on the ethics, values, and morals involved. Further activities such as telephone contact with the public require only summary guidance and should allow extensive police discretion. Figures, list of cases, and 29 references