This could mean that they think that somebody follows them to their house when there will actually nobody be there. Learn about the practice of police discretion and how police officers make decisions based on the best possible situational outcome. Many police officers are also just not happy with their jobs. The major pro of being a police detective would be that the work would be interesting and intellectually stimulating. An aggravating factor is an aspect of crime that increases an act's severity and culpability. State Law Enforcement Agencies & Roles | What Is State Law Enforcement? In fact, it can even make you much stronger and overcoming our fears is crucial to really grow in character and to develop a more stable personality. It resonates at home with spouses and children. As researchers who specialize in crime and punishment, we see five reasons why police officers should be encouraged to pursue a college degree. Official websites use .gov Hence, you dont have to worry about future job opportunities as a police officer that much since there will be plenty of work that still has to be carried out by humans. These officers tend to work more proactively with community members to resolve issues and prevent problems rather than only reacting to incidents when called. A police officer can also impact the area they serve as a whole. They protect the community or certain neighborhoods and work to reduce crime rates. Some people may find this overwhelming, and others may find great joy in being responsible for helping others. They also get paid for family leave, sick leave, vacation and long-term disabilities. What makes us this way? 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. [Youre smart and curious about the world. WebSome advantages of giving full police authority to private police are authority to address a wider range of criminal activity, improved security-officer morale, improved career Iowa State University and University of Nebraska Omaha provide funding as members of The Conversation US. Good since not many people want to do this job. Opportunity to help offenders follow the law*. Some people may find this type of job exciting and like doing new tasks every day. This will also be quite hard for yourself since you will never know whether you will see your kids again or not. Some disadvantages of empowering private police with full police authority are the attraction which such authority holds for many undesirable candidates, the risk of increasing unnecessary arrests, limited constitutional restraints on private security employees compared to public police, the increased liability of government entities for actions of private security officers they have licensed, the risk of inequitable enforcement, and expanded administrative responsibilities for municipal governments licensing private police. Giving officers the power to make determinations on the job without having to seek approval or permission frees up human and monetary resources. This is quite logical since whenever you need the police, something bad has happened to others. Here are the top recognized benefits of community policing: Improved officer morale: The national narrative around policing has had a significantly negative impact on It is a curse and a blessing. Probation officers play a significant role in society and in the law enforcement process. In turn, you will have pretty good job prospects and dont have to fear losing your job due to automatization in the near future. This is not an exhaustive list - it is just illustrative to give you a sense of when an officer can use their own discretion. This will not only make your life as a police officer easier, but you can also profit from it in your private life since the skill to make rational decisions under difficult circumstances is crucial to succeed in various parts of life in general. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Officer Bob sees the person assault a passerby and must now use his discretion to decide whether he will intervene and possibly draw and use his weapon, or call for back up assistance. Denying reality gets you killed. Use of force is defined as actions that range from verbal threats to use force to actually using force that could cause physical harm. Officers are afforded the opportunity to use their best judgement and knowledge to make decisions. In other words, the statute may indicate that a certain act is illegal; the police officer can then expeditiously make an arrest based upon his interpretation. 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. After finishing university, I traveled around the world. Police enjoy a high status and reputation in society, since policing is a well-respected position. Once the jury uses their discretion to render a verdict, the judge may use their discretion in sentencing. Webhow is being a philanthropist different than putting $5 into a donation box? Comraderies among peers also deflect negative work thoughts. Problem-oriented policing is a proactive strategy to identify crime problems in communities. There is also the risk that the police officer might misinterpret a statute when performing their duties. succeed. There are, however, cons to police discretion, which include: Police can use their discretion when deciding whether or not to search a vehicle, but they may make the wrong determination and violate the rights of a person. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Depending on the state you live in and your educational level, you can also earn pretty decent money from being a police officer. In fact, being a policeman is not safe at all and you should be aware of the fact that you put your life at risk every time you leave your home. We cant sit still nor do we seem to have the mindset at times to settle down at home. From this time on, I wanted to make a contribution to ensure a livable future for the next generations in every part of our beautiful planet. Educated law enforcement professionals will be better equipped to lead much-needed reform efforts. Thus, if you have those ambitions, make sure that you connect to the right people and do your job extraordinarily well. Many organizations allow workouts on duty and participate in dietetic and nutritional training for their employees. Moreover, you will also learn how to read people and this is crucial to succeeding not only as police officer, but also in various other parts of your life. Policing is a very interesting job and the situations officers face change constantly. Those attributes we contract from experience tend to become permanent character traits. 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. In general, police officers face quite irregular shifts and often dont know how the next weeks will look like for them. By arresting suspects and leading investigations, a police officer can keep the community safe from people who are committing crimes. 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. However, it can also be a dangerous, stressful and difficult job. For instance, one disadvantage of being a police officer is that you will not get rich. Police officers toe the thin blue line, the line between lawfulness and illegal acts. One important advantage of being a police officer is that cops have a pretty high reputation in society. As long as your kids are still small, they will not realize how dangerous your job really is. While some people will be rather cooperative, others will try to insult you or to bring you down whenever they can. WebOne important advantage of being a police officer is that cops have a pretty high reputation in society. What are five negative and five positive personality adaptations cops undergo after experience on the job? If you are still not sure yet, you may have some friends who are police officers and can give you some additional information on this topic. Moreover, I also dont think that people want to be supervised and controlled solely by machines. In fact, there is plenty of frustration around in the cop world since many people just had different plans for their lives and thought that being a cop would just be different. 551 lessons. Many officers would say humor buffers the shroud of reality we face in societal problems. In fact, there is plenty of hate around on the streets and you will no longer experience the level of respect previous police officer generations got from the general public. While some people like this insecurity since they get a certain level of excitement out of it, others who need a structured day hate it and if you are the kind of person who wants to play way ahead, chances are that becoming a police officer will just not be the right way to go for you. Free gym memberships are also sometimes a perk of the job. However, before you sign your contract, make sure you read this article since I show you all the pros and cons of being a police officer. 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. Each specialized duty boasts about its place in the organization and those assigned sometimes try to outshine the others in performance while respecting the independent functions. Many police officers also suffer from sleep deprivation or even insomnia. Fraternal relationships in law enforcement are very strong. As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics. She has tutored English and History, as well as STEM classes, such as Statics, Calculus, and Thermodynamics. The police discretion definition refers to the freedom of police officers to make decisions as they perform their official duties. Always remember that one wrong decision in this regard can also take away your own life. On the other hand, the use of police discretion has been criticized for negative aspects. I admit, this can be annoying at the beginning. 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. Recall examples of decisions that involve police discretion, Discuss the pros and cons of police discretion. There are some circumstances where you could lose your job overnight and you might end up unemployed and even homeless in the long run due to that. Policemen not only have to work at nighttime, they also have to work on holidays. Officers with a bachelors degree reportedly: have fewer citizen complaints choose options short of an arrest to resolve problems are less authoritarian are more ethical have fewer disciplinary problems compared to their high school graduate counterparts What are the reported disadvantages of a bachelors degree? Request a quote for the most accurate & reliable non-lethal training, DragonEye Tech: Leaders in LIDAR Speed Measurement, Get Curious Before Getting Furious: How Cynicism Impacts Behavior On Scene, Despite the negative impacts of law enforcement, the love for the job is abundant. Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. Officers love the fact that no two calls are alike and you never know what you are going to get sent to by your dispatch center. Sometimes, you will also not be able to choose the neighborhood you have to work in and you might get unlucky and have to work in a rather bad one. Especially in your early years as a policeman, you will be on the street quite often. As a police officer, you will also have to rely on the support of your colleagues. The disadvantages of police officer discretion are that it can escalate a situation or violate someone's rights if applied improperly. We are selective of where we dine. If you make mistakes, you may also get fired. Hence, dont think that your job as a police officer is entirely safe. Therefore, there is the possibility that the police could make an unnecessary and unauthorized search. Now that you got all the advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer, it is on you to evaluate all the arguments carefully to decide whether you want to become a cop or not. No day will be like the past one and you will always have to adjust your expectations. The definition of especially heinous, however, is left up to the prosecutor's discretion. interacts online and researches product purchases Cops are not immune to the changes in the divisiveness of society and the emotional drama associated with it. We often compete with our peers and families in outdoor games and sporting events. For instance, since many people really appreciate your work, you will often get meals for free in your favorite restaurants. If you make mistakes, people may even sue you. The Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer Pros. Check out the top positive things about being a cop. One attractive aspect of being a police officer is the financial security you will have. Cons. Being a police officer is rewarding, but also challenging. Now You Know the Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer. As you can see, there are many wonderful things about being a police officer. 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. Private Law Enforcement: Types, Functions & Roles. Policemen can support local neighborhoods. Acting as an intermediary between law and chaos can be stressful, and means that there are many pros and cons of being a cop. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Police work affords theopportunity for giving back both on duty and off. He draws his weapon and orders the suspect to freeze. Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. In fact, you will make many mistakes throughout your career and some of these mistakes can even cost lives. Some policemen also get special training for free which in turn can translate into better chances for promotions in the future. Police work is particularly dynamic and no day is the same. List of the Advantages of Police Discretion 1. Though each day is going to be different as a police officer, some people might rather have a more predictable, mundane type of job. While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many In one study, officers with criminal justice degrees said their education helped them gain managerial skills. Also, the prosecutor exercises their discretion to decide the severity of charges levied against the offender. Additionally, one study found that police departments that required at least a two-year degree for officers had a lower rate of officers assaulted by civilians compared to departments that did not require college degrees. I show you all the pros and cons of being a police officer so you can make a profound decision of whether you still want to become a police officer or not. If you are thinking about becoming a police officer, you should first consider the many advantages and disadvantages of this profession. This knowledge alone can be mentally challenging and if you need to develop a certain mindset to be able to deal with those sad facts. If the defendant does have to stand trial, juries hear the case and use their discretion when deciding whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. Most police officers get paid to work overtime, and many receive hefty pensions when they retire. If you dont get any support from the right influential people, your chances of making it to the top will be almost zero. Hence, you can make really strong bonds during your career as a police officer and can even make friends for a lifetime. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you 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. 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/. 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. 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. Jessica is a practicing attorney and has taught law and has a J.D. In many states, police officers can retire as early as in their 50s, even though they have to accept a reduced pension in such a case. In fact, shifts of police officers can be quite long and depending on what happens in your district, you will have to work long hours and will come home exhausted. If officers had to ask permission from judges for every decision they were faced with, this would be inefficient and costly. Variety of duties*. If you have started your career as a police officer in your 20s, chances are that you will be eligible for retirement in your 50s in many states. One Grade 9 student said that the presence of police officers made the high school feel safer than other schools. Chances are that it can get much better if you stay ambitious and try to get into different departments. You will not only put your own life on the line, also the quality of life of your family will suffer quite a lot since your kids and your spouse will always worry about you. Thus, becoming a police officer can also be a great career path for you if you love excitement and action on a regular basis. You will never know what happens during your shift and every operation could potentially be the last one for you. In fact, it is not easy at all to be a police officer and to deal with all the emotional burden that comes along with it. We can no longer look at the world we live in the same way. 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