Police Discretion and Corruption free essay sample

The Fine Line between Police Discretion and Corruption Abstract In todays law enforcement agencies there Is a fine line between discretion and corruption. Imagine that you are a police officer, you pull over a car that you suspect is driven by someone who has had too much to drink. Upon reaching the window you find that its an old friend from school. Do you take him to jail or do you take him home? Police officers have the power to make this decision.In the world of the officer this could be a case of discretion but in the eye of the public it would most likely it loud be considered corruption. Police corruption Is a major problem for our society. It has been a growing problem since the days of Prohibition. One major concern Is how to separate corruption and discretion. Studies have been taken and the results show that officers have different opinions on what corruption Is and how It should be dealt with. We will write a custom essay sample on Police Discretion and Corruption or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page (Clocker, 2005, p. 02) The surveys were conducted on different departments; in turn different agencies have deferent cultures of integrity so the surveys accuracy could be questioned (p. 102). With the information from the studies we only know that officers have different opinions on what is corruption and what is discretion. The combination of power, authority, and discretion in police work produces great potential for abuse. Police corruption is a complex problem, which has no solution. It is a problem that has and will continue to affect us all, whether we are civilians or law enforcement officers.Police corruption has Increased dramatically with the Illegal cocaine trade, and the officer acting alone or In-groups to steal money from dealer ND/or distribute cocaine themselves. Large groups of corrupt police officers have been caught in New York, New Orleans, Washington, DC, and Los Angels. Corruption within police departments falls into two basic categories: internal corruption, involving relationships among the police within the works of the police department and external corruption, which involves police contact with the public.There are many different forms of corruption; gratuity, involving free meals, free dry cleaning and discounts; bribery, involving the exchange of money or something of value teen the police and wrong doer (this is very common among narcotics officers); theft and Burglary, involving officers stealing property, money and/or drugs from the department; and stealing from people under the influence, who essentially become victims of the police. A new form of police corruption developed in the early sasss and Into the sasss, which Include brutality, delimitation, sexual harassment, corrupt officers start off as honest and idealistic. The career of corruptions begins violation of the laws, involving larger amounts of money and officers initiating corrupt acts. It can be said that power inevitably tends to corrupt, and it is yet to be recognized that, while there is no reason to presume that police officers as individuals are any less fallible than other members of society, people are often shocked and outraged when officers are exposed violating the law. The danger of police corruption could invert the formal goals of the organization and may lead to the use of organizational power to encourage and create crime rather than to deter it.There have been many attempts to put an end to police corruption, with no real success. An attempt to eliminate corruption, by increasing salaries, more training, incentive for education, and t he development of policies that focus directly on factors leading to corruption. Despite many efforts by the police departments to control corruption, it still exists. Police corruption has a very long standing history. Controlling corruption has to come from both the police department and the assistance and support of local community members.Community members should be educated about the negative effects of corruption within the police agency and hat gratuities (most common form of police corruption), is Just the means for future corruption. They should be aware of regulations. Controlling corruption from the departmental level requires an organization with strong leadership. Corruption can take place at any level in the police department, from the patrol officer, to the chief of police. Controlling corruption begins with the chief of police and his attitude. The chief has to make it clear that corruption will not be tolerated. Establishing rules and regulations within the department to insure that all officers conform to certain behavior will help. A proactive integrity test should be in place. All police candidates should be pre-screened (background checks, drug test, alcohol testing), which will help to weed out the bad candidates from future police officer positions. The fight against corruption will be a long battle as the problems of yesterday, still remain today, with little to no improvement.Discretion is defined as the opportunity for law enforcement officers to exercise choice in their daily activities. In most cases this is where corruption starts. An officer sakes a free cup of coffee; next hes taking bribes for simple tickets. Although most of the time it doesnt reach the high level of corruption it does happen. Discretion in law enforcement has always been a hot topic with the police and the community. The community thinks that the police do not use enough discretion and the police think they use too much discretion.In my opinion I believe that the police should be able to use discretion when they can as long as it doesnt cross that fine line into corruption. The police make very hard decisions on a daily basis and you do to want an officer to rush into a decision where he either has to shoot, or has to talk you down. Discretion is a very important tool used by law enforcement. Police discretion designates power or freedom to Judge and decide what needs to be done in a certain situation.When the police get involved in a situation the first thing he does is figure out whether or not the situation should be criminality or if it Just involves some intervention by the police. For instance, if the police arrive at a bar they should arrest the person, or cut them a brake and let them go with a warning. The police may arrive on a scene to assist a woman giving birth; the officer must use discretion and make a quick decision. He may first call an ambulance or he may have to escort her in his car to get there quicker.Police officers have to use discretion on a daily basis. There will never be a way for the police to have a manual on every situation that may occur and what the officer should do in that situation. This is where discretion comes into play for officers, there are Just way too many out of the ordinary situations out there for police officers not to use discretion. Police officers are trained very well but the one thing they cannot teach is when and where to use discretion.Although there are only a small number of corrupt police officers it still has a negative effect on society. Citizens feel that because of the corruption that they cant trust all police officers. In some instances people would rather deal with problems themselves rather than calling on police officers that they feel they cannot trust. Police officers need to ban together and police themselves and get rid of corruption so that citizens can trust whoever shows up in the time of need.

University of Phoenix Material Essays (569 words) - Free Essays

University of Phoenix Material Essays (569 words) - Free Essays University of Phoenix Material Questionnaire Complete the questionnaire form by creating 10 questions you think will determine the competencies of caseworkers applying for a position with your family counseling practice. Address the following in your questions: The caseworker's method for handling ethical issues. The caseworker's plan for staying current in his or her area of expertise and for receiving continuing education. The caseworker's procedure for maintaining accurate and complete client records. Write the final question so it involves a scenario that requires the caseworker to determine whether to abide by the duty to warn or the duty to protect. Complete the questionnaire as if you were one of the caseworkers applying for the position. |Question |Your answer | |What previous experience do you |I have a love for helping children | |have? |and have been working in a child | | |care facility for a while now. I | | |work with children every day and | | |look forward to helping those in | | |need. | |If you saw a coworker that had done |The first thing that I would do is | |something unethical what would you |to talk with the coworker about it. | |do? |Then if needed I would go through | | |the proper channels to the ones | | |above us. | |What is your plan on staying current|I would find the most recent things | |within your area of expertise? |that are new to counseling and make | | |sure that I took them. | |How do you feel about taking some |I would be happy to keep up on my | |classes to keep you updated on your |education so that I was able to | |education? |better assist my clients. | |Can you tell me something that is |Having multiple relationships with a| |unethical for a counselor? |client that is not, in a | | |professional manner. | |If you found out that your client |I would explain to the client that, | |had another issue that you were not |it is not in my expertise but I | |aware of, and it was not in your |could help refer them to someone who| |expertise how would you handle it? |does. | |If you found out that a client had |I would first talk with my | |broken the law in the manner of |supervisor, about it and then make | |sexual or physical abuse, how would |sure that I took the proper steps to| |you handle it? |tell the authorities and then follow| | |up on it. | |What is your plan to make sure you |The first thing that I would do is | |have accurate and complete records? |to take notes on the client and make| | |sure that I kept them separated, | | |from each other by labeling them | | |with their names and dates that I | | |see them. | |Can you think of another way to keep|Another way that I would be able to | |your records accurate and complete? |do this, would be to put them in a | | |computer and make sure that I | | |labeled them the same way. | |If a client came to you and said |Yes, I would have to abide by the | |that they were wanting to hurt |duty to warn and the duty to | |themselves, and or someone else. And|protect. Because in this case you | |they have talked about it for a |cannot overlook this. If they were | |couple sessions would you abide by |willing to tell you then you should | |the duty to warn or protect? |abide by it and break that | | |confidence and tell someone. |

Three Different Elements of a Crime

Three Different Elements of a Crime In the United States, there are specific elements of a crime that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt in order to obtain a conviction. The  three specific elements (with exception) that define a crime which the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt in order to obtain a conviction: (1) that a crime has actually occurred  (actus reus), (2) that the accused intended the crime to happen (mens rea)  and (3) and concurrence of the two meaning there is a timely relationship between the first two factors. Example of the Three Elements in Context Jeff is upset with his ex-girlfriend, Mary, for ending their relationship. He goes to look for her and spots her having dinner with another man named Bill. He decides to get even with Mary by setting her apartment on fire. Jeff goes to Marys apartment and lets himself in, using a key that Mary has asked for him to give back on several occasions. He then places several newspapers on the kitchen floor and sets them on fire. Just as he is leaving, Mary and Bill enter the apartment. Jeff runs off and Mary and Bill are able to quickly put out the fire. The fire did not cause any real damage, however Jeff is arrested and charged with attempted arson. The prosecution must prove that a crime occurred, that Jeff intended for the crime to occur, and concurrence for attempted arson. Understanding Actus Reus Criminal act, or actus reus, is generally defined as a criminal act that was the result of voluntary bodily movement. A criminal act can also occur when a defendant fails to act (also known as omission). A criminal act must occur because people cannot be legally punished because of their thoughts or intentions. Also, referencing the Eighth Amendment Ban on Cruel and Unusual Punishment, crimes cannot be defined by status.   Examples of involuntary acts, as described by the Model Penal Code, include: A reflex or convulsion;A bodily movement during unconsciousness or sleep;Conduct during hypnosis or resulting from hypnotic suggestion;A bodily movement that otherwise is not a product of the effort or determination of the actor, either conscious or habitual.   Example of an Involuntary Act Jules Lowe of Manchester, England, was arrested and charged with the murder of his 83-year-old father Edward Lowe was brutally beaten and found dead in his driveway. During the trial, Lowe admitted to killing his father, but because he suffered from sleepwalking (also known as automatism), he did not remember committing the act.   Lowe, who shared a house with his father, had a history of sleepwalking, had never been known to show any violence towards his father and had an excellent relationship with his father. Defense lawyers also had Lowe tested by sleep experts who provided testimony at his trial that, based on the tests, Lowe suffered from sleepwalking. The defense concluded that the murder of his father was a result of insane automatism, and that he could no be held legally responsible for the murder. The jury agreed and Lowe was sent to a psychiatric hospital where he was treated for 10 months and then released. Example of a Voluntary Act Resulting in a Non-Voluntary Act Melinda decided to celebrate after receiving a promotion at work. She went to her friends house where she spent several hours drinking wine and smoking synthetic marijuana. When it is time to go home, Melinda, despite protests from friends, decided she was okay to drive herself home. During the drive home she passed out at the wheel. While passed out, her car collided with an oncoming car, resulting in the death of the driver.   Melinda voluntarily drank, smoked the synthetic marijuana, and then decided to drive her car. The collision that resulted in the death of the other driver occurred when Melinda was passed out, but she was passed out due to decisions she voluntarily made before passing out and would therefore be found culpable for the death of the person driving the car she collided with while passed out. Omission Omission is another form of actus reus and is the act of failing to take action that would have prevented injury to another person. Criminal negligence is also a form of actus reus.   An omission could be failing to warn others that they could be in danger because of something that you did, failure to a person left in your care, or not failure to complete your work properly which resulted in an accident.   (Source: U.S.Courts - District of Idaho)

Skin problems related to makeup Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Skin problems related to makeup - Essay Example Firstly, with regards to the use of makeup and the clogging of pores, this has an unhealthy affect for a number of reasons. First, due to the fact that the pores of the skin are the means whereby the skin is able to be moisturized and â€Å"breath†, clogging the pores has a negative affect not only on the health of the skin but on the aging process (Streamlining Beauty 88). Without being able to deliver the necessary moisture and oils to the surface, the aging process takes place at a faster rate as the skin loses its ability to be elastic and stretch. In such a way, even though the application of makeup is intended to make the skin more beautiful, as can be seen from the preceding discussion, it can actually have a diminishing return over time. As a means of understanding these determinants, ti is the hope of this author that the reader will be able to integrate a further and more complete understanding of makeup and its effects on skin health. ... The final health impact that makeup can have is related to allergic reactions on the part of the user. Although there is no way that any product can be made allergen free, by very nature of the diverse allergies that are exhibited by individuals, the fact of the matter is that many individuals are allergic to many of the thickening agents or minerals that are found within the common forms of makeup that are on the market today (Levy & Emer 175). Moreover, depending on the quality of the product, there are certain degrees of impurities that can be found within these products to a varying degree. As a function of this, the levels of pure ingredients that are interacting with the skin of an individual’s face are oftentimes unknown (Gray & Boothroyd 66). Due to the fragility and tender level of the skin that is exhibited on the face, as well as the fact that there are at least 7 orifices in the immediate vicinity, this is an especially worrisome point. As a function of these parti cular issues, the reader can understand that many of the negative skin health issues related to makeup are concentric around the overall cleanliness of the skin and/or the ability and desire of the individual user to ensure that they remove all makeup each and every night prior to going to bed. If this is engaged, the level and extent to which the pores will be clogged and the acne levels will increase will be reduced precipitously. However, with regards to the final issue that has been raised, the allergic reactions that many users experience when using makeup, this is not something that can be prevented or reduced. Ultimately, such a skin health issue is entirely dependent upon the environmental factors that determined the individuals

Cold war and Aid to africa during cold war Essay

Cold war and Aid to africa during cold war - Essay Example The group was divided into two that is those who wanted a military action of invasion to take place and those who advocated for a diplomatic action of eradicating the missiles. After eight days the US president organized a blockade of Cuba and all the military forces in the US were prepared to launch the blockade according to Bostdorff (63). This led to a more tension between the US and the Soviet Union thus intensifying the cold war. Flights of reconnaissance continued to take spy over Cuba and the same time the two nations that is US and the Soviet Union continued to exchange warnings. Finally the Soviet Union President Khrushchev declared the countries withdraw of the missiles from Cuba according to D'Anieri (54). As a result the United States also withdrew its missiles from Turkey which threatened the Soviet Union. After the Cuban Missiles crisis a hotline was installed between the two nations so as to resolve such treats in the future. Kennedy’s Assessment of Handling the Crisis and the Various Kinds of Advice Given Kennedy’s later assessment of the Cuban crisis was that if he has decided to follow the advice of the military force on the issue the US would have failed in handling the Cuban Missile crisis leading to the painful crisis ever. During the various white houses meeting Kennedy held with his advisers, he received various options regarding the solution to the crisis. Kennedy chose his advisers from various areas in order to gain a wide range of proposals according to Siracusa (67). On the first day of the first meeting, everyone in the meeting advocated for bombing of Cuba. However Kennedy and others favored a surgical attack which they considered equal to the scale of attack from the Soviet Union. By the third day of the crisis an advice came from the Secretary General of states who suggested a US surprise attack to Cuba. The Executive Committee (ExComm) itself had six solutions which it advised the president on concerning the Cuban missiles one of them was taking no action which would put the country in danger and make the president look weak. The second was appealing for help from the United Nations but could not work since the then UN chairman of its security councils was from the Soviet Union. The third option was a secret approach to Castro, however this could not work since the weapons were possessed by Soviet Union not Castro. Their other possible advice was an attack on Cuba through this would lead to nuclear war according to Bostdorff (54). The fifth advice was to undertake a surgical air strike which would eliminate all missile sites. However this would have led to third world War, therefore the most favored advice of the ExComm was the blockade which was aggressive enough and gave Khrushchev a second thought on the crisis. Aid to Africa during and After the Cold War During the cold War Donors geographical political objectives weakened the worthiness of threats to determine distribution of aid based o n the adoption of the democratic modifications. Particularly during this period, aid to African countries was mostly allocated based on political allegiance as opposed to performance as suggested by Segell (206). As a result this caused abuse and other cases absolute theft of world wide assistance by the fraudulent government official. Strategic alliance was the major driving force in development assistance since the security imperatives controlled the

We Must Change the American Health Care System :: Medical Care Insurance

We Must Change the American Health Care System I came to the United States sixteen years ago. Being a European, I have watched with great interest and disbelief about the ongoing disagreements regarding a socialized health care system, which President Bill Clinton has proposed. I am a native of Poland and experienced positive benefits of socialized medicine, so I can't understand why some people are so negative towards changes in the health care program. Are we really happy with our current medical insurance? I don't think so. Recent data from the Census Bureau show that "43.4 million people in the United States had no health insurance coverage" (Bennefield 1). Almost eleven million American children are uninsured as well. Adults and children don't have medical coverage because they can't afford it (1). People who do have some form of medical coverage are often unaware of the hidden costs dictated by the private insurance companies. In addition, do you recall how many times you have watched the news about people asking us for fin ancial support because they couldn't pay their medical bill? What is wrong with this picture? Why do we have to ask for charity versus having a better health system? I strongly believe that health care should be available to anyone, and especially in America, the richest country in the world. We all want good, affordable medical coverage, but we are not getting it. Therefore, we should change the current medical system by following the example of socialized medicine in Europe, by making changes in the insurance companies, and by making preventive medicine our priority. First of all, let me tell you what socialized medicine means. It is a public system of national health insurance where doctors are usually paid for their services by the government, and everyone is eligible for medical care without any preexisting condition. Most European countries have some form of socialized medicine. For example, in Poland the health care system is free. Employers pay 48% of a worker's monthly salary to cover not only medical care but the retirement program as well. The rest of the money for medical needs comes from the government's funds. My sister, who lives in Germany, told me that 13.1% of her monthly salary is deducted from her paycheck to cover the medical insurance. She said that she only pays about $5 for her prescriptions and about $15 per day for a hospital stay.

Pompei and Herculaneum Religious Archaeology

Being one of the most fascinating and cataclysmic events in Ancient Rome, The violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius ultimately destroyed a set of unique and culturally significant societies from Rome. With Pompeii and Herculaneum’s unique culture came their widely influenced and varied religion. Religion of which had no one following, one god or one origin. Both societies housed many cults and religions, many of which were adopted by citizens after foreign influences, significantly from the Hellenic civilizations. Pompeii was evidently a wealthy aristocratic city, as demonstrated by the abundance of valuables located along the remains of dead Pompeians. Golden coins, jewelry and lavish houses adorned with frescoes were extracted from Pompeii at the time of finding, as the volcanic debris preserved much of the city. This is not to say that Pompeii also housed many middle and lower class citizens, slaves being an integral part of the city-town. Much of these influences manifested itself in the form of temples, epigraphy and burial practices and are examples of how much and how many forms of religious impact were seen throughout the city. Seeing how these religions surfaced in Pompeii and Herculaneum can help uncover how these distinct cults and practices impacted the societies. Being one of the most prominent and distinct examples of influence in religion in both societies, the temple of Isis housed a large and devout cult all around the Roman Empire, but very much so in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Being of Egyptian origin, the god Isis was a significant part of both cities, the temple in subject adorned with mosaics of Roman and Egyptian gods, with the god Hermes carved onto the purgatorium. This demonstrates to us that the Cult of Isis did not in a way, interfere with the practices or other religions, but rather integrated into. Isis herself was represented in large of lower classmen, commoners as well as slaves and women. As such, having a large slave and tradesman population, meant that Isis was a popular cult and goddess towards the people. The courtyard itself contained a multitude of chambers and buildings, one of which led to a cistern that held water from the rive Nile. This shows us not only of their devotion to Isis, but it is also evidence of ritual and cult practice. As the Temple was kept intact so well, much of the architecture and detail in regards to the walls and columns tells that the city had strong Egyptian influence, as well as showing us how important Isis and Egyptian religious worship was to them. Such importance in that an Egyptian Temple was built in a Roman city, further enhancing the notion that Egypt had large impact onto Pompeii and Herculaneum. Plutarch stated that the Egyptians were indeed of a very pious nature, but they were not the only cult to call Pompeii its home. The cult of Dionysus, another large following in Pompeii and Herculaneum, was to honor the titular god, Dionysus. Being the god of Wine and festivities, the higher class individuals may have seen the cult as a representation of themselves, demonstrating how it catered to the aristocrats’ own lifestyle, similar to how Isis represented the poor and working class individuals. Dionysus was of Greek mythology, showing us the influence of the Greeks, but it very much resembled Bacchus, the Roman god of similar representation. Dionysus was somewhat worshipped in the Villa of the Mysteries, in which Romans would accommodate its interior. The Villa was a meeting place and a home to many patrons in Pompeii, lined with ornate and detailed frescoes, largely intact. The frescoes depict a multitude of activities and practices, such as rites of passage, leisurely activities such as dancing and instrument playing, as well as featuring Dionysus himself. This was likely some of the many practices that the cult delved in during the villa. It is also interesting to note that the exterior of the villa was closed off and although a large part of the city, it is situated in the northwest of the city, away from the general populace and larger landmarks. In addition to that, much of the rituals and events took place at night and in secrecy, specifically the rites of passage. One could assume that although the worship of either Bacchus or Dionysus was prevalent, the practices and activities that were partaken, especially at night were something to be discrete about. Such a source is useful to us as the Villa’s Dionysus worship is backed by the fact that the Villa and its practices and rituals were placed so far away from other prominent buildings and individuals. Other figures were also incorporated into housing and residences as well, one of them being the Lares. Lares were guardian figures in Roman Mythology and were widely impacted throughout Pompeii and Herculaneum. Many of our references to the Lares are shown in the form of mosaics and statues, particularly around Roman residence. Lares were seen to be protectors, which explains their use around the city. One such residence, the Villa of the Vettii, houses a particular mosaic of two Lares, assumed to be sacrificing another individual, with a snake under them, representing prosperity. Not only this, but Lare statues were placed all around the house and for many other everyday occasions, such as funerals, banquets and births. Cicerobelieved that â€Å"The mose sacred and hallowed place on earth is the home of each and every citizen†, the citizens of Pompeii rightly believing so. One could deduce that the citizens believed that the Lares were directly related to the city’s well-being and that they demanded sacrifices in order to achieve it. In addition to this, the fact that these deities were so widespread and common throughout both Herculaneum and Pompeii, in addition to much of the rest of Rome, shows its usefulness in identifying that the Lares were seen as a very significant and integral part of everyday life. Another significant religious practice in both societies was the use of tombs and burials. The ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum are scattered with the tombs and burial sites of dead citizens, mostly of aristocratic descent around the gates and leading to the city. The graves collectively formed the Necropolis and are scattered with statues and inscriptions of different gods and followings. This shows us how diverse the religious demographic was in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Many tombs also contained valuables along with their owner’s remains. Things such as jewelry and weapons were found during excavation, detailing that these individuals had possibly believed in an afterlife with the items that they were buried with. It is also interesting to note that Hellenic and Gallic civilizations adopted this practice earlier on, possibly concluding that there could have been Northern and definite Greek influence in Pompeii. It is also a point to make that these tombs were built around the gates of Pompeii and Herculaneum, a place of high traffic. Citizens could then be speculated that they may have treated the idea of death much more positively and more conventionally than how the modern world handles it, the latter in question usually designating graveyards near places of little significance or at least, certainly not of high traffic. The Necropolis in question of its usefulness is very much a key part in understanding the belief of death, its practices in burial and the afterlife as it was and still is, the resting place of thousands of people, all of them, believing that the Necropolis was a distinguished, significant place of burial and where they wished to be encapsulated, many of them bearing and displaying their Religious affinity in either the form of epigraphy or an idol or shrine near their tomb.