Describe the general attitude of the public toward the police.
According to surveys, the American public is generally satisfied with the quality of the service the police provide. The level of confidence varies across racial and ethnic groups. As with most services, the public believes there is room for improvement.
Summarize the steps in an effective police officer selection process.
Police applicants go through several different kinds of testing to become law enforcement officers. Steps in an effective police officer selection process include: recruitment, short application, detailed application, medical examination, physical ability test, written examination, background investigation, psychological testing, oral interview/oral board, academy training, and a probationary employment period.
Identify factors that affect the exercise of police discretion and methods of limiting discretion.
Factors that affect the exercise of police discretion include the nature of the crime, departmental policies, the relationship between the victim and the offender, the amount of evidence, the preference of the victim, the demeanor of the suspect, the legitimacy of the victim, and the suspect's socioeconomic status. Methods of limiting police discretion are close supervision by a police agency's management, department directives and policies, U.S. Supreme Court decisions, and the threat of civil liability suits.
Describe two general ways that law enforcement agencies can reduce stress on the job.
Two general ways that law enforcement agencies can reduce job stress for police officers are (1) to employ stress management strategies, such as discussing stressful events with colleagues and mental health professionals, regular exercise, relaxation techniques, healthy diet, religious support, enriched family support, prayer, meditation, and stress management classes that often involve spouses, and (2) to implement organizational change, such as allowing officers more discretion in determining work hours and shifts, flattening the organizational structure and giving officers more discretion in carrying out their responsibilities, job redesign that assigns unwanted or unnecessary tasks for a police officer to another position, and having excellent public safety equipment such as weaponry, vehicles, and body armor.
Explain the circumstances under which police officers may be justified in using deadly force.
The use of deadly force by a police officer may be justifiable if (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 officer believes that the force employed creates no substantial risk of injury to innocent persons; (4) the officer believes that the crime for which the arrest is made involved conduct including the use or threatened use of deadly force; and (5) the officer believes there is substantial risk that the person to be arrested will cause death or serious bodily harm if his or her apprehension is delayed.
List some of the ways to control and reduce police corruption.
Ways to control and reduce police corruption include selecting and maintaining officers with high moral standards, developing rigid departmental policies that cover the wide range of activities that corruption comprises, disciplining and prosecuting officers who are guilty of violating established policies and laws, utilizing a proactive internal affairs investigations unit, holding first-line supervisors responsible for the actions of their subordinates, employing outside review and special prosecutors, and emphasizing to officers the costs to police agencies of criminal prosecutions and civil liability suits.
