POLICE DUTY (FROM POLICE IN AMERICA, 1975, BY JEROME H SKOLNICK AND THOMAS C GRAY - SEE NCJ-19813)

• NCJ Number: 19821
• Author(s): M BANTON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Little, Brown and Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE MANNER IN WHICH POLICE IN THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN EXERCISE POLICE DISCRETION IS DISCUSSED, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT MINOR OFFENSES SUCH AS DRUNKENNESS OR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

Abstract

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE POLICE DISCRETION ARE REVIEWED. AMONG THESE ARE THE CHARACTER OF THE OFFENDER, THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE, THE PROBABILITY OF CONVICTION FOR THAT OFFENSE, AND THE PERSONALITY OF THE POLICEMAN. THE SOURCES FROM WHICH POLICE OFFICERS DRAW THEIR IDEAS AS TO DISCRETIONARY POWERS ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. THESE ARE TRAINING, THE EXAMPLES OF COLLEAGUES, THE ADVICE OR INSTRUCTION OF SUPERVISORS, THE COURTS, AND CONTACTS WITH SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).