DISCRETIONARY DECISION MAKING AND PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE POLICE (FROM POLICE PATROL READINGS, 2D ED. 1970, BY SAMUEL G CHAPMAN - SEE NCJ-01974)

• NCJ Number: 15159
• Author(s): A J REISS
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

DIFFERENT SITUATIONS IN WHICH A POLICE OFFICER MUST EXERCISE JUDGMENT ARE REVIEWED, AND THE NEED FOR PROFESSIONALISM AS A BASIS FOR POLICE AUTHORITY IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

PROFESSIONAL DUTIES OF THE POLICEMAN, SUCH AS HANDLING PHYSICAL OR VERBAL ABUSE, DEALING WITH EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OR LARGE NUMBERS OF PERSONS, AND CONTROLLING THOSE NOT DIRECTLY CONCERNED IN AN ACTION SUCH AS FAMILY MEMBERS OR CROWDS OF WITNESSES ARE DISCUSSED. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT THE DILEMMA FOR POLICE IS TO BALANCE IN SOME WAY TRADITIONAL MORAL AND QUASI-LEGAL CONCERNS ON ENFORCING THE LAW AND CATCHING CRIMINALS WITH THE EMERGING CONCERNS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ON POLICE METHODS. PROFESSIONALIZATION OF POLICE IS SEEN AS A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THE POLICE PATROLMAN, IN SPITE OF HIS POSITION AS THE LOWEST RANK ORDER IN THE DECISION-MAKING SYSTEM, IS SEEN AS HAVING THE BROADEST POTENTIAL RANGE OF DISCRETION AND JURISDICTION, AND THEREFORE OF POSSIBILITIES OF EXERCISING PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT. STILL, HE IS IN THE MOST VULNERABLE POSITION IN THE SYSTEM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH RESPECT TO RESTRICTION OF HIS JURISDICTION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)