POLICE DISCRETION - THE IDEAL VERSUS THE REAL (FROM POLICE IN AMERICA, 1975, BY JEROME H SKOLNICK AND THOMAS C GRAY - SEE NCJ-19813)

• NCJ Number: 19822
• Author(s): H GOLDSTEIN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Little, Brown and Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE NATURE OF AND NEED FOR POLICE DISCRETION IS REVIEWED, AND A POLICY OF OPEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POLICE DISCRETION BY POLICE ADMINISTRATORS IS URGED.

Abstract

THE LAWS UNDER WHICH POLICE OPERATE, POLICE PROCEDURES, AND SOME OF THE PRESSURES WHICH EXIST IN THE TYPICAL COMMUNITY WHICH THE POLICE SERVE ARE EXPLORED TO DETERMINE THE REASONS FOR POLICE DISCRETION. THE REASONS FOR THE LACK OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POLICE DISCRETION BY POLICE ADMINISTRATORS ARE THEN DISCUSSED. AMONG THESE ARE FEAR OF ADVERSE PUBLIC REACTION, FEAR OF INCREASED POLICE CORRUPTION, AND LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO ENFORCE ALL LAWS. THE AUTHOR CONTENDS, HOWEVER, THAT ACKNOWLEDGING THE EXERCISE OF DISCRETION WOULD REDUCE THE PUBLIC'S UNREASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF THE POLICE, INCREASE PROFESSIONALISM OF POLICE, AND INCREASE PUBLIC RESPECT FOR THE LAW.