Police Discretion And Police Violation

Police officers carry a huge responsibility for their communities, the power and authority to keep the peace. Citizens of the community rely on police officers to behave appropriately, using the highest levels of morals and ethics. When an officer behaves unethically or abuses or misuses the power and authority given to them, it is considered police misconduct or corruption. Police misconduct and corruption can be committed in a variety of ways. Actions including violating policies or regulations, violating a citizen’s civil rights, or an excessive use of physical or deadly force are included (Gilmore & Trufail, 2013). Corruption in any action that abuses police authority for their own personal gain. Corruption can include things like bribery, …show more content…
Police discretion is the capability to decide what action should be taken in a particular situation. It is at the very foundation of the criminal justice system. Each day officers go out into the field and use discretion to deal with the unique situations they face. They may see the same type of situation several times in one week, but depending on the extenuating circumstances, the reaction required may be different. The circumstances surrounding the situation, and the reactions of the individuals involved can impact the office’s decision on what the correct, moral, and ethical response should be. Situations can arise where the right answer is not clear and easy, officers are forced to make the best decision in each circumstance. The task of deciding which cases warrant an investigation, determining the appropriate consequences, and defusing the situation when no action is required is a huge responsibility (Gaines & Kappeler, …show more content…
It can be difficult to evaluate and define ethical behavior because there can be gray area. Perceptions, opinions and experiences can influence the way a person views an incident and how they react to it. Two ethical theories that work to explain how people determine good and bad behavior include; utilitarianism and deontology. Utilitarianism is based on the belief that a person’s actions should ensure the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. It is considered a form of consequentialism; the judgement of an action is based on the consequences of that action. An action that results in positive consequences will be viewed as positive, moral, and ethical. An action that results in negative consequences will be views as immoral and unethical. Utilitarianism does not place as much value in the intentions and motives behind the action, the focus is largely on the consequences