Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Thus, every goodbye will sound strange and will have a sad implication of what might happen sooner or later. Research shows that, overall, college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints. Thus, if you have those ambitions, make sure that you connect to the right people and do your job extraordinarily well. I feel like its a lifeline. This is quite logical since whenever you need the police, something bad has happened to others. Police officers have to rely on each other to make their operations as safe as possible. Its the nature of the beast. It is all a balancing act. Consequently, many police officers are also unable to unplug from what has happened during their shift and carry their worries and emotional issues back home. This could mean that they think that somebody follows them to their house when there will actually nobody be there. Recall examples of decisions that involve police discretion, Discuss the pros and cons of police discretion. Now let's look at another example. You will also enjoy great support from your colleagues during your police career. While many people dont want to have this high level of responsibility, others love it and if you are the kind of person who really wants to have this power, becoming a police officer might be the right way to go for you. Now that you know all the pros and cons of being a police officer, it is on you to decide whether you still want to become a policeman or if you want to go for an alternative career path instead. Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. You will just have to live with the fact that your life could be over anytime. Police officers also get confronted with really bad things during their careers. Environmental Conscience aims to provide unique high-quality content that is helpful to the reader. As long as your kids are still small, they will not realize how dangerous your job really is. My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people about the different career paths that are possible in our current state of the world. If you make mistakes, people may even sue you. In case of emergency, it will be on you to decide whether there is the need to take away the lives of people or not. There are advantages to police discretion, such as allowing officers the flexibility to perform their job, allowing officers to make quick determinations when The order did not mention the need for police to get a college education, even though higher education was identified in the 2015 Presidents Task Force on 21st Century Policing as one of six effective ways to reduce crime and build better relations between police and the communities they serve. Private Law Enforcement: Types, Functions & Roles. There are various reasons why the use of police discretion is a positive aspect of a police officer's position. Webadvantages and disadvantages of scatter graphs advantages and disadvantages of scatter graphs Hence, you can make really strong bonds during your career as a police officer and can even make friends for a lifetime. In turn, you will also become more patient in case things dont work out the way you want them to be. It resonates at home with spouses and children. Hence, your life will depend on the reliability of your colleagues and if you dont want to put your life into the hands of others, chances are that becoming a police officer will not be the right way to go for you. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_13',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Yes, there are people who simply dont like them. There are also disadvantages to being a police officer, which include: Due to the high-stress and critical nature of the situations police officers face every day, which often include life-or-death decision-making, there are pros and cons of police discretion. Policemen also learn how to deal with difficult people early on in their careers. Hence, as a police officer, you will have the power to improve the lives of many people who will be thankful for what you do for them forever. Being a police officer in America is a tough job.. Police discretion, however, has been criticized because it may result in the incorrect application of certain statutes and thereby violate someone's rights, such as their right to not be subjected to unlawful search and seizure as defined by the Fourth Amendment. While your job will be relatively easy in good neighborhoods, it can be a nightmare in bad neighborhoods where people just dont respect you at all. In fact, you will have to decide when it will be appropriate to use your gun and when there will be no need for it. Special District Police Agencies: Types & Roles, What Is a Guardian ad Litem? The principle of police Consequently, the police officer must decide on their own in the particular moment what to do. Why is being professional important? There are advantages and disadvantages of police discretion, just like there are pros and cons of being a cop. You can also work in many different departments. For instance, as college students, aspiring or current police officers participate in internships, do community service or study abroad. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. A police officer can also impact the area they serve as a whole. Despite the negative impacts of law enforcement, the love for the job is abundant. In turn, you will become much more relaxed. Officers genuinely care about making a positive impact in their community. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. It is also not that easy to become a police officer. Higher education has been shown to enhance the technical training that police get in the academy or on the job. While this can be quite annoying and emotionally challenging, you will also learn how to keep your emotions under control and how to react to difficult situations. Being a police officer also includes writing police reports and doing other paperwork, so it may not be a source of constant thrills. In fact, unlawful behavior doesnt care about holidays too much and you as a police officer have to chase the bad guys on holidays as well. Policemen can also retire earlier than people in most other jobs. Imagine a world without police. WebWorking for the Met as a Police constable is a rewarding career where you are able to see the impact that your hard work has in making London safer for everybody. If you have made bad decisions in the past and have an extensive criminal record, your chances of becoming accepted as a police officer will be almost zero in most states. Those who truly love the work will go to extra lengths for others. Discretion in criminal justice is present at all levels of the system and in its bureaucracies. In fact, many police officers have an inner motivation to protect the people they already know from early childhood. Many police officers are also not able to deal with the emotional burden that comes along with their job. Thus, make sure that you also have backup plans in case you will not be suitable for a police career. This could mean that you will not be able to celebrate Christmas or other important holidays with your family and your kids will be quite sad and may even resent you for that in the long run. Many people also greatly underestimate the stress that comes along with being a police officer. Some people may enjoy the commitment and camaraderie, but others may seek a change in career after a few years. This is necessary since most unlawful activities happen at nighttime. $55,000 per year on average, ranging from $45,000 to $75,000 per year. For instance, the officer could misinterpret a statute and make an erroneous arrest. Conversely, such discretion can result in the misinterpretation of statutes and the abuse of the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches. ], Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Presidents Task Force on 21st Century Policing, almost 30% less likely to fire their weapons in the line of duty, lower rate of officers assaulted by civilians, more satisfied with how police serve their community, increases commitment to community policing, moral reasoning and openness to diversity, identifying quality information and scientific evidence, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship, Associate Lecturer, Creative Writing and Literature. Due to the bad things and the difficult decisions they have to make during their shifts, many police officers also suffer from serious sleeping issues. You should really be convinced about it and should take your mission quite seriously. Educated law enforcement professionals will be better equipped to lead much-needed reform efforts. Of the 60,105 assaulted officers, 31% sustained injuries. Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, Director, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice; Co-Director, Nebraska Collaborative for Violence Intervention and Prevention, University of Nebraska Omaha. In fact, there are countless career opportunities out there and you should just choose the one that seems to be right for you. Many children dream of becoming a police officer. Among other things, they say a college education improves ethical decision-making skills, knowledge and understanding of the law and the courts, openness to diversity, and communication skills. As a police officer, you will also have to deal with many difficult family problems and you will generally see the worst of humanity. WebThe advantages of being a probation officer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_officer, https://golawenforcement.com/articles/10-tips-for-a-successful-law-enforcement-career/, https://www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/resources/best-police-career-advice/. However, some police officers quit their jobs after a while due to the dangers they no longer want to be exposed to. succeed. Since you will have to resolve conflicts on a regular basis and also have many stressful days during your career, chances are that you will stay in shape. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-3','ezslot_21',193,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-3-0'); Networks are crucial for promotions, not only as a police officer but also in the corporate world. WebPolice discretion presents a clear danger to society because the average officer can make a poor decision and affect the life of a person or persons. Being a police officer is inherently dangerous, and each day As a policeman, you will also have the power to do good for others. Being a police officer is not only about action. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_18',188,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');While many other jobs can be automized in the near future and many people will lose their jobs due to that, this will not be true for police officers. The definition of especially heinous, however, is left up to the prosecutor's discretion. Proactive Policing Strategies & Examples | What is Proactive Policing? However, once they get older, they will notice that every goodbye can be the last one. If discretion in law enforcement is used in a wrongful manner, it has great potential for being abused out of the field. So daily we are exposed to human misery and conflict which gives us a very narrow version of society. Police officers can keep their neighborhoods safe, Police officers get high levels of responsibility, Plenty of different fields you can work in, You learn how to deal with difficult people, Police officers get action on a regular basis, You will become really good friends with your colleagues, Most police officers have a high fitness level, Police officers can retire relatively early, Many people have lost respect for the police, You can lose your job due to one big mistake, Being a police officer is not the safest job, Police officers have to work at nighttime, Many police officers suffer from sleeping problems, Some police officers cant deal with events from the past, Especially problematic if you have to work in bad neighborhoods, Police officers have to deal with plenty of paperwork, Top 10 Being a Policeman Pros & Cons Summary List, salary, prospects, future outlook, educational requirements, duties, responsibilities, work-life balance and job satisfaction of police officers, 10 Smart Things To Do After Failing An Art Degree, 18 Smart Things To Do After Failing An Economics Degree, 18 Things To Do After Failing Your Communication Degree, 18 Smart Things To Do After Failing Your Education Degree, 19 Things To Do After Failing Your Engineering Degree, 19 Smart Things To Do After Failing Your Biology Degree, 18 Smart Things To Do After Failing Your Psychology Degree, 18 Smart Things To Do After Failing Your Business Degree, 33 Key Pros & Cons Of Being A Casino Dealer, 31 Key Pros & Cons Of Being An Underwriter, 30 Noble Pros & Cons Of Working For A Hedge Fund, 32 Nerdy Pros & Cons Of Being A Data Scientist, 31 Key Pros & Cons Of Being A Loan Officer. It also gives them the chance to get to know the communities they will police. Also if you think that police officers have a relaxed life, you should think twice. If officers had to ask permission from judges for every decision they were faced with, this would be inefficient and costly. You will never know what happens during your shift and every operation could potentially be the last one for you. Police work can affect or sway our behavior to a greater degree of positivity, too. Lexipol. Since enough sleep is crucial for our body and our brain to work properly, sleep deprivation can lead to many serious health issues and also significantly decreases overall quality of life. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. The use of discretion allows the police officer the flexibility necessary to perform their job. We constantly scan our surroundings, look for exits, and keep alert. Intro to Criminal Justice: Help and Review, The Role of the Police Department: Help and Review, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Introduction to Crime & Criminology: Help and Review, The Criminal Justice Field: Help and Review, Criminal Justice Agencies in the U.S.: Help and Review, Law Enforcement in the U.S.: Help and Review, Watchman, Legalistic & Service Policing Styles, Police Management & Police Department Organization, Police Intelligence, Interrogations & Miranda Warnings, Police Corruption: Definition, Types & Improvement Methods, Police Use of Force & Excessive Force: Situations & Guidelines, Racial Profiling & Biased Policing: Definition & Impact, Legal Issues Facing Police: Civil Liabilities & Lawsuits, Custodial Interrogation: Definition & Cases, Deterrence in Criminology: Definition & Theory, Differential Response: Definition & Model, Excessive Force: Definition, Cases & Statistics, Inevitable Discovery: Rule, Doctrine & Exception, Interrogation: Definition, Techniques & Types, Latent Fingerprint: Analysis, Development & Techniques, Police Discretion: Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons, Police Patrol: Operations, Procedures & Techniques, Preliminary Investigation: Definition, Steps, Analysis & Example, Preventive Patrol: Definition, Study & Experiment, Problem-Oriented Policing: Definition & Examples, What Is a Police Welfare Check? However, while you can do a great job for your community, it can be quite annoying and exhausting to work at nighttime. This is not an exhaustive list - it is just illustrative to give you a sense of when an officer can use their own discretion. As a police officer, you will surely be both loved and hated. With all these ambitious peers and competitive factors pressuring us, who wants to be at the bottom? Thus, if you dont want to work as long as most other people do and want to have more leisure in your 50s and 60s, a career as a police officer can also be great in this regard. We cant sit still nor do we seem to have the mindset at times to settle down at home. Thus, no job is the same and job descriptions may not completely fit your individual experiences. Many policemen also develop mental issues in the long run. Protecting the community and being on the front lines takes an emotional toll. Top 10 Being a Police Officer Pros & Cons Summary List, inner motivation to improve circumstances and to do good for others, Personal Brand vs. Corporate Brand: 24 Key Pros & Cons, 24 Key Pros & Cons Of Investing In (Retro) Video Games, 34 Major Pros & Cons Of Investing In Comic Books, Gold Bars vs. Gold Coins: 23 Precious Pros & Cons, 31 Cool Pros & Cons Of Owning A Classic Car, 24 Key Pros & Cons Of Unemployment Benefits, 32 Key Pros & Cons Of Investing In Trading Cards, 30 Precious Pros & Cons Of Investing In Art, You learn how to deal with difficult people, Police officers have a good fitness level, Being a police officer lets you grow in character, Variety of different fields you can work in, Police officers often suffer from mental issues, You can improve conditions in your community, Police officers have to make difficult decisions, Police officers can retire relatively early, Mistakes of your colleagues can cost your life. , there are various reasons why the use of police Consequently, the officer could misinterpret statute. 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