Police Functions Summarized Distribution of police resources Vast majority of police in a police force and resources go to patrol 65 Next criminal investigation 15 Then traffic 9 Then administration 8 Then crime prevention 1 Patrol Duties Patrol is called the backbone of the department by administrators The most time consuming and resource intensive task officers undertake Responding to burglar alarms Investigating traffic accidents Caring for injured people Trying to resolve domestic disputes Responding to radio calls Non crime classified calls for service Attendance at public gatherings Benevolent and community services Preliminary investigations Arrest Traffic direction and control Court testimony The Role of the Detective Detectives enjoy several advantages over patrol officers o Don t have to wear uniforms o They have anonymity during work hours if they choose it o They have steady work hours often during daytime hours with weekends off o They have offices and desks Activities of Detectives Incident report and preliminary investigation o Obtaining information about the crime establishing the identity of victims witnesses and potential offenders determining the whereabouts of suspects detailed description of crime scene statements Evidence collection and processing Screening and case assignment Follow up investigation Clearance and arrest File maintenance Issues that Impact Police 1 Making an arrest 58 of felony encounters 44 of misdemeanors Discretion the use of personal decision making and choice in carrying out operations of the criminal justice system 2 Police abuse of force includes deadly Deadly Force Corruption police corruption is defined as the abuse of police authority for personal gain or to gain advantage for the police organization present a danger to an officer or the community involves actions such as the use of abusive language unnecessary use of force or coercion threats stopping and searching the ability of the police to kill the suspects if they resist arrest of Abuse of Force 3 Technology Factors that Influence Arrest 1 Mobilization Reactive practice Complainants request 2 Evidence 4th Amendments requires probable cause to arrest o The police officer possesses enough facts and circumstance that would lead a reasonable officer to believe the person arrested has committed a crime Misdemeanors police witness of offense direct information the officer must be an eyewitnesses to the crime to establish probable cause o If doesn t exist a witness testimony statement is required Felony Offense probable cause reasonable grounds 3 Seriousness of the offense Seriousness is much more serious if a gun is involved 4 Intimacy social distance between victim and offender Arrest by V O relationships o 45 of family members o 77 of friends neighbors o 88 of strangers 5 Disrespect Confrontational attitude Threats to officer s authority or control In a recent police foundation survey of 121 police departments half of the officers interviewed stated that police are likely to arrest someone because he or she displays a bad attitude toward an officer Weisburd and Greenspan 2000 An officer engaging in specific behavior based off of a person s characteristics 6 Discrimination race and ethnicity 7 Discretion Discretion the operations of the criminal justice system The use of personal decision making and choice when carrying out Sources of discretion 1 Environment Community s race and economic make up Officer s perception of community 2 Departmental Characteristics Size of department Judgment of police chief and operating style Structure and clarity in departmental policies Ratio of supervisors to subordinates 3 Peer Influences Informal police culture on the job advice and acceptance among older more experienced officers React to emotional demands working conditions peer pressures An officer who reports another officer s misconduct is likely to be given the cold shoulder by his or her fellow officers o 2 3 of officers agreed with this statement in survey that involved 121 police departments o Non written rule that you don t tell on your partner Attitude appearance demeanor of suspect Touching or struggling with officer Time length long vs short of interaction Police officers frequently complain that citizens fail to understand police work do not respect them or defer to their authority 4 Situational Factors