Police Discretion

Police Discretion

By: Ellen Clark

June 3, 2010

University of Phoenix Axia Online

Discretion in my own words means that you do not do what you want to do but doing what you know to be right, so I guess I am saying it means to make the right choice. Discretion is exercised in everyday life to help people make choices. Now it is exercised in the police force because it helps them to make good judgments about on whom to arrest and charge with a crime and things of that sort.

Now in the force scenario that I was given to read for this assignment the officer used discretion in many ways. One way was the officer did not assume something illegal was going on as she tried to help the suspect without insinuating that she was going to arrest the person she just wanted to help. When the suspect began the walk away and then began to run away the officer got the message that something was wrong so she began to pursue the suspect on foot. In the end when she decided to shoot the suspect because of the multiple struggles that she encountered with him she used other ways of apprehending him and I do not think she meant to kill him just wound him.

I think the factors that lead the officer to use the discretion was the fact that the suspect ran away when she asked if he needed assistance and because of the multiple struggles they encountered together. She became partially disabled during these struggles and decided she had no other option to apprehend the suspect. I have to say that yes I think the officer did you appropriate course of action based on what had happened, though I do not think she intended to kill the suspect just wound him greatly so he could not move any more.

Discretion is controlled by lots of training and critical thinking on the spot. I also think it is controlled by lots of practice as far as being an officer is concerned. Some strategies that can be used to ensure the right use of discretion are proper training and education. Another...