Policing is often characterized as a mix of monotony and moments of anxiety and anguish. It is also perceived by society as a corrupt, coercive, biased setting that considers itself exempt from the law. To ensure the communal and unbiased essence of this occupation, specific qualities are required.
Cultural characteristics encompass the beliefs, customs, arts, and more of a specific society, group, place, or time. They represent a way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in an organization or location. When one officer is suspected of misconduct, fellow officers unite and perceive it as an attack on the system that ensures public safety. This code resembles the military’s code — there is an unspoken expectation to remain loyal to fellow officers. Although this structure may have flaws, it proves effective. The majority of officers adhere to appropriate behavior; however, those who deviate from this norm display a distorted sense of entitlement and will ultimately face both legal consequences and disciplinary actions.
There is ongoing debate among the public and government about police discretion, which is a controversial aspect of the criminal justice system. This grants police officers the freedom to make decisions in different situations, including who to pull over for traffic violations, who to interrogate or apprehend, and how to address public concerns effectively.
Police officers must rely on their judgment when performing law enforcement duties, as they often face ambiguous situations without clear regulations. The exercise of discretion is influenced by both external and internal factors, with the type and severity of the offense being a crucial factor. This factor greatly impacts an officer’s decision-making process, especially in deciding whether to apprehend individuals for minor infractions or more serious crimes.
2.) The way a suspect acts during a stop or questioning can greatly impact whether an officer decides to make an arrest. Acting disrespectful in a police encounter is like showing contempt in court, which makes it harder for the officer to do their job.
3.) Additionally, a police officer’s decision to make an arrest is also affected by the victim’s characteristics, social status, and personal preferences.
A recent study suggests that police officers may postpone apprehending a suspect if they hold negative opinions about the victim or their way of life. Additionally, the officer’s decision to arrest someone can be influenced by how they perceive the proximity between the suspect and the victim, such as when they are married. In such situations, officers might believe that an arrest is less necessary because they assume that the victim would not testify against the suspect.
Police officers have identified several reasons for not apprehending the suspect in intimate relationships, such as husband and wife:
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The victim may fear retaliation from the suspect if they report the incident.
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Taking the suspect into custody would mean removing the primary earner of a family.
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The complainant’s intention might not be to have the suspect arrested but rather to scare them.
An additional crucial factor that affects police discretion in arresting a suspect is the presence of evidence related to the offense. If there is clear evidence of wrongdoing, officers are more likely to take the suspect into custody.
Studies show that African Americans and individuals who identify as homosexual, bisexual, or transgender are more likely to experience being stopped, arrested, and subjected to police force than white individuals. This disparity in treatment is influenced by the minority status of those involved in the offense. The exercise of police discretion primarily depends on an officer’s personal characteristics, which can be shaped by factors like childhood background, education history, societal culture, and work environment.
The level of acceptance that police officers have towards individuals with different backgrounds and preferences shapes their discretion. Throughout the history of the United States, there have been persistent racial tensions and gender discrimination against women. In 1861, Washington D.C. saw its first African American police officer, while New Orleans took the initiative to actively recruit African American officers due to a significant African American population.
African American officers were initially hired specifically to patrol their own communities. However, their numbers decreased significantly from 177 in 1870 to 27 by 1880 as a result of Supreme Court rulings on the reconstruction amendments. The presence of African American officers completely vanished by 1910, and this continued until the 1950s. In the 1880s, a new development occurred with the introduction of women to the police force, who were referred to as police matrons. These women, typically from the upper middle class, had various responsibilities including visiting the sick, conducting searches on women and juveniles, engaging with houses of prostitution, and preparing meals.
The Los Angeles Department celebrated the arrival of its first female officer, Alice Stebbin Wells. Despite a surge in women’s employment during World War II, they remained underrepresented until the civil rights movement in the 1960s, which paved the way for equal opportunities for both women and African Americans in law enforcement. In 1915, Alice Stebbin Wells founded the International Association of Policewomen to tackle issues and promote professionalism within their field. The race riots during the 1960s led to an approximately 11 percent rise in black officers.
Thanks to affirmative action and the civil rights movement, there has been additional support in addressing the shortage of black officers and enhancing police community relations in minority communities. The average person often fails to recognize the inherent stress faced by police officers unless they have a personal connection with one. This distinct culture encompasses officers’ thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors during their duty. Police organizations throughout the United States adopt different strategies when it comes to engaging with the communities they serve. Such mindset promotes a feeling of solidarity among officers, setting them apart from criminals, victims, and citizens that they come across.
This thought process is vice versa as well: bigger police departments tend to have a stronger connection to the community and vice versa for smaller departments. The quality of the relationship between the agency and its officers depends on effective leadership and respect. Police captains, chiefs of police, and first-line supervisors must carefully navigate the line between upholding the law and avoiding favoritism. Promoting based on personal preferences or through the “good ole boy” system will undoubtedly decrease morale, leading to resentment and diminished performance.
Police officers become desensitized to showing kindness and taking the risk that ordinary individuals may be innocent when they witness daily what an officer encounters while patrolling the streets. The law, from the perspective of law enforcement, presumes guilt rather than innocence, unlike the general assumption for citizens. This harsh reality is what officers face each day after leaving the training academy, where they were idealistic and committed to their oath of office. However, upon entering duty, they quickly realize that the world is no longer the same. The stresses experienced by officers are beyond comparison to those encountered by the average person (Welsh, 2011).
