MORE LIGHT ON A LOW VISIBILITY FUNCTION - THE SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS (PART 4)

• NCJ Number: 10508
• Journal: POLICE LAW QUARTERLY Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (APRIL 1973) Pages: 35-44
• Author(s): S A SCHILLER
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE NEED FOR THE ARTICULATION OF RATIONALES AND STANDARDS FOR SELECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND A PROPOSAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY-MAKING BOARDS TO SET GUIDELINES.

Abstract

THE FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THE USE OF DISCRETION BY POLICE OFFICERS HAS LED TO A NUMBER OF DIFFICULTIES IN POLICE OPERATIONS. A POLICE OFFICER IS NOT TRAINED TO USE SELECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCORDING TO ANY OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED STANDARDS AND THEREFORE HIS DECISIONS ARE UNCERTAIN AND INCONSISTENT. USUALLY THE REASONS GIVEN FOR THE REFUSAL OF POLICE ADMINISTRATORS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE USE OF DISCRETION BY INDIVIDUAL PATROLMEN ARE ALL REVIEWED AND DISCOUNTED. THE AUTHOR PROPOSES THAT A POLICY ARTICULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD BE ESTABLISHED. THIS BOARD WOULD NOT HANDLE CITIZEN COMPLAINTS. THOSE WOULD BE REFERRED TO INTERNAL POLICE REVIEW OR TO THE COURTS.