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Discretion In Policing Pros And Cons

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Criminology 100: Introduction to Criminology Policing and Discretion
“In context to Negative aspects of discretion”
Uday Partap Singh Sidhu
802397 Columbia College
Date: March 22, 2017 Instructor: Josh Murphy Discretion means the freedom to take decision, freedom of judgement, in context to policing, Discretion is a major police power. Discretion here means ability to choose between multiple options, a police officer has a choice to take a decision. For instance; while encountering an overspending vehicle, a police officer has multiple options, either he can issue a speeding ticket on the spot, or else he could just warn the driver to take care next time, it totally depends on the officer, he may choose any option in regardless of his discretionary powers. Discretion has both pros and cons. While, Leniency, Informed decisions, Zero-tolerance, Arrests, Detention are some positive aspects of discretion in policing whereas partiality, discrimination based upon age and gender, racial profiling, wrongful arrests, harassments contribute to discretional abuse. However, discretional abuse in increasing rapidly, the public …show more content…

The police activities are no more secretive. The advancement of technology has changed it all. The mass media keeps on focusing upon increasing awareness about the civil rights, the ill-practices of police are always highlighted and dramatically presented by news-media making common people aware and scared. The surveilling trend on police is hiking, people are now always on their toes to record something suspicious about police related activities on their smart mobile phones. Though sometimes the sources such as videos are manipulated and posted on internet or displayed by new channels making things worse, but this is surely limiting some of misuse practices carried out by police. (Dr Murphy, McKenna. 2014). Discretionary abuse has been limited by media emphasis, public awareness, and advancement of

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