This could mean that they think that somebody follows them to their house when there will actually nobody be there. Another advantage of becoming a police officer is that you will also stay quite fit during your active career. Racing through traffic to crime scenes, risking being shot and approaching unsuspecting criminals are just some of the daily activities that make being a police officer dangerous. Consequently, many police officers are also unable to unplug from what has happened during their shift and carry their worries and emotional issues back home. If the defendant does have to stand trial, juries hear the case and use their discretion when deciding whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. Being a police officer also doesnt mean that you have to stay in the field you began your career in. Fraternal relationships in law enforcement are very strong. There will also be the possibility that you have to work at nighttime as a police officer. 1. Many officers would say humor buffers the shroud of reality we face in societal problems. Gabrielle Nicolet has been writing and editing professionally since 2004. Consequently, those wrong decisions can really break you in the long run since you will know that a better choice of you could have saved lives and many police officers simply cant deal with those things in an emotionally proper manner. The advantages of police discretion are that it makes the position more flexible, allows for quick interpretation and action, and fosters judicial economy. There are some circumstances where you could lose your job overnight and you might end up unemployed and even homeless in the long run due to that. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Being a police officer also includes writing police reports and doing other paperwork, so it may not be a source of constant thrills. 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Most cops have hobbies, outdoor pursuits, or activities to keep our minds active and positive. Consequently, the police officer must decide on their own in the particular moment what to do. This could mean that you will not be able to celebrate Christmas or other important holidays with your family and your kids will be quite sad and may even resent you for that in the long run. While many people who work in office jobs have to go to the gym to stay in shape, you as a police officer dont have to do this since you will stay in shape in a natural manner and can spend your time in a more enjoyable manner. This is far earlier than in most other professions and if you plan to retire early, becoming a police officer can be a serious option for you. As a police officer, you can also help your family and friends in case they get problems with neighbors or suffer from any other injustice. State Law Enforcement Agencies & Roles | What Is State Law Enforcement? Varied hours. If you make mistakes, people may even sue you. These officers tend to work more proactively with community members to resolve issues and prevent problems rather than only reacting to incidents when called. If you are still not sure yet, you may have some friends who are police officers and can give you some additional information on this topic. I feel like its a lifeline. [Youre smart and curious about the world. However, in reality, there are also many downsides related to this job. There are allowances and plenty of financial coverage taking care of various However, Ive quit pretty soon after that since I havent found true meaning in my job. Research shows that, overall, college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints. Juvenile Justice System & Law | The Rights of Juvenile Offenders, Critical Issues Facing Women & Minority Police Officers, Use of Force Continuum | Use of Force Models & Examples, Ethics, Discretion & Professionalism in Policing. Others may feel the risk is not worth the benefits that come with being a police officer. Especially if this case is revealed in public, chances are that there will be huge shitstorms on social media and the pressure to fire you will be enormous. Research has found that when police departments use community-policing strategies, people are more satisfied with how police serve their community and view them as more legitimate. Discretion affords police officers autonomy and authority. Officer Bob decides to intervene. In fact, teamwork is key during your operations and if you have colleagues that dont have your back, you may even lose your life due to that. Following several deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order on June 16 that calls for increased training and credentialing to reduce the use of excessive force by police. You can make a huge difference in many peoples lives over the span of a careerand in Many police officers also suffer from sleep deprivation or even insomnia. Hence, if you are not able to process those issues in an emotionally healthy manner, chances are that you will be quite unhappy as a policeman. The major pro of being a police detective would be that the work would be interesting and intellectually stimulating. Additionally, there are those who argue that the use of police discretion can potentially result in a violation of one's Fourth Amendment rights. My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people of all ages about our environmental problems and how everyone can make a contribution to mitigate these issues. Being a police officer in America is a tough job.. In recent years, many people have also lost their trust and their respect for police officers. You should really be convinced about it and should take your mission quite seriously. WebPros of a Career as a Probation Officer. We constantly scan our surroundings, look for exits, and keep alert. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. $55,000 per year on average, ranging from $45,000 to $75,000 per year. Conversely, the prosecutor can decide whether or not offer a plea bargain so that the defendant does not have to go to trial. It is a natural outcome of being on the force with an abundance of Type A personalities. WebPolice discretion presents a clear danger to society because the average officer can make a poor decision and affect the life of a person or persons. Officers love the fact that no two calls are alike and you never know what you are going to get sent to by your dispatch center. The various decisions that different participants in the legal system are allowed to make shows what forms discretion takes in criminal justice. Imagine that Officer Bob is on patrol when he notices that an automobile is driving in the rain without its lights on, which is against the law in the state. Police discretion is used while officers are performing their official day-to-day duties. Law enforcement officers exercise police discretion when deciding whether or not to draw their weapon, make an arrest, shoot someone, search someone, render assistance to someone, or issue a ticket to someone. Discretion is important in the criminal justice system because it fosters judicial economy. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Law enforcement is ever-evolving, and so is the person occupying the uniform. If you are thinking about becoming a police officer, you should first consider the many advantages and disadvantages of this profession. For instance, one problem with being a police officer is that the job can simply be quite dangerous. Police enjoy a high status and reputation in society, since policing is a well-respected position. This does not mean that police officers can make unlawful decisions, but rather that they must use their knowledge of what is lawful and reasonable and what is unlawful and unreasonable to make appropriate decisions in stressful circumstances. If the judge decides on life imprisonment, they can decide whether or not the convicted party will ever get the chance for parole, and after how many years they will be eligible for parole. Everyone and everything is suspicious until proven otherwise. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. An error occurred trying to load this video. I conducted various interviews with employees to give you a good impression of what working in different fields will look like and that you can make the best possible decision regarding your future career choice. It should come as little surprise, then, that police administrators, including police chiefs, are more likely to hold college and post-graduate degrees. In fact, unlawful behavior doesnt care about holidays too much and you as a police officer have to chase the bad guys on holidays as well. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). You still want to become a police officer? Another upside of a career as a police officer is that you can also get significant levels of responsibility already early on in your career. New police chief hired at N.C. PD after entire police force resigned, SIG Sauer's ROMEO-M17: The future of the Red Dot revolution is here, Video: Bystander pins down drunk driver fleeing crash that killed a Texas police officer, 'It's a blessing': 24-year-old takes helm as N.C. police chief, 'Hold your heart open': Officers, community members attend funeral for Kansas City cop, K-9, keep officers job satisfaction rates high, Open the tools menu in your browser. It is up to the prosecutor's discretion to decide whether the offense was serious enough to spend valuable time, money, and resources in pursuing the punishment. We often compete with our peers and families in outdoor games and sporting events. In fact, shifts of 10 hours+ are quite common and this can be really exhausting, especially at nighttime when you will often count every minute until it will eventually be time to go home and fall into your bed. It also gives them the chance to get to know the communities they will police. Due to the bad things and the difficult decisions they have to make during their shifts, many police officers also suffer from serious sleeping issues. Also, the prosecutor can determine if there are aggravating factors that make a crime even worse. As we can see from the previous chapter, there are definitely many important advantages of working as a police officer. No matter which way you personally feel about the subject, the police must be sure not to cross the 'thin blue line' when it comes to utilizing police discretion. There are advantages to police discretion, such as allowing officers the flexibility to perform their job, allowing officers to make quick determinations when In turn, you will also become more patient in case things dont work out the way you want them to be. Officer Bob sees the person assault a passerby and must now use his discretion to decide whether he will intervene and possibly draw and use his weapon, or call for back up assistance. The prosecutor can choose whether to attempt to charge someone with a felony or a misdemeanor, and can try to add on sentence enhancements as well. Learn about the practice of police discretion and how police officers make decisions based on the best possible situational outcome. We would be lost without our firearm and badged clipped to our waistbands. However, there are also many downsides related to this career path. It is unique devotion to people which comes along with the territory. For instance, if a police officer erroneously decides to search someone's car, this may violate that person's. You can get our highlights each weekend. Disadvantages of Becoming a Probation Officer. This can be either an advantage or a disadvantage depending on your perspective. While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many bad things every day. The use of discretion allows the police officer the flexibility necessary to perform their job. If the police had to consult with other officers or go to a judge every time they needed to make an on-the-job determination, this would result in a drain not only on the economy but also on the overall law enforcement and judicial systems. Its dreadful, really. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. In fact, policemen are at much higher risk to suffer from mental problems since they have to deal with so many conflicts and also see so many bad things during their active careers. In fact, many people struggle with it since it destroys the natural sleeping rhythm. You will not only put your own life on the line, also the quality of life of your family will suffer quite a lot since your kids and your spouse will always worry about you. 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