Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Police Fairness in Regards to Race, Gender, and Class....




Differences Between Male and Female Police Officers Mock Questions:

1) When a suspect attempts to run away from an officer, are male or female officers more likely to successfully apprehend them? Male officers are more likely to apprehend a fleeing suspect because they typically have greater physical strength, speed, and stamina than female officers. Male officers are also more aggressive.

2) Do male or female officers take more days off from work for personal days? Female officers take more personal days because they are more emotionally expressive in ways that are not appropriate for the workplace and take a day off to get through it.

3) Are civilians more responsive and cooperative to male or female officers? It depends on the individual citizen. Female officers have a greater ability to appeal to those in need of emotional attention, while male officers are more able to take control of a physically aggressive situation.

4) After an incident, are male or female officers more likely to write up their reports in a timely manner? Females are generally better at multi-tasking and getting things done in a timely manner.

5) Which gender of officer is a greater liability to the police force? Female officers are a greater liability. Woman are typically worse drivers and more likely to get in an accident with their patrol car. Woman are less likely to catch a suspect in a foot chase, making it more likely for the person to get away. Women have smaller body frames, making them more likely to break a bone or get injured.

Policing Styles:






In this video clip from the Fox television show “Cops,” an example of the law enforcer style of policing can be seen. The law enforcement view contends “duty is clearly set out in the law and that law enforcers stress playing it ‘by the book (Siegel, 2008).’” Law enforcers (he later notes) see themselves as generalized law enforcement agents charged with apprehending all types of law breakers (Siegel, 2008). This can be clearly seen in the clip because the officer (from the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department) is arresting someone he suspects of smoking marijuana; the officer is playing by the book, even pointing his weapon at the man whilst apprehending him (likely because the officer suspects the offender might be carrying a weapon). Siegel also notes that “law enforcers are devoted to the profession of police work and are the most likely to aspire command rank (which the officer in this clip possesses) (Siegel, 2008). The Sheriff’s Deputy is not exhibiting the crime fighter style because he isn’t “focusing on a serious crime (obviously marijuana smoking isn’t) (Siegel, 2008).” He isn’t a social agent, because an officer following this style would encourage the man to seek drug rehabilitation. He definitely isn’t a Watchman because “watchmen choose to ignore many infractions and requests for service unless they believe that the social or political order is jeopardized (Siegel, 2008).” Thus as one could see, the law enforcement style is exemplified with the officer shown here.

Siegel, Larry J (2008). Introduction to Criminal Justice, 297. Video: Video retrieved from YouTube on October 4, 2009 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mp0qs44fsY


Example of Police Brutality and Corruption:


In July of 2005 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota a 70-year-old American Indian Frank Sioux Bob of Pine Ridge was at home with his grandchildren when officers entered the house and indicated they were responding to a call about a gun. There was no weapon in the house. Still the officers continued to enter without a warrant or consent and roughed up Mr. Bob. No one in that area had made such a report This incident was taken to court were a judge had been asked to dismiss this police brutality lawsuit filed on the grounds that it the case belonged in tribal courts not federal.


This particular incident shows it is evident that police brutality was used. The brutality occurred when the victim Mr. Bob was “roughed up” by the police who could be interpreted as using force or coercion, as defined in the definition of police brutality. Another element that could be considered as police brutality is the unlawful entering of the victim’s home. This can be inferred as using searches to harass people. The article tries to justify the actions of the police by stating that they were responding to a call of a gun, but it was later reported that no call was made to the police in that area regarding a gun. Therefore it can be implied that a possible motivation that the police had to enter the victim’s home was to harass him. The police could have handled the situation much differently. They could have simply asked if a gun was founded in the home, and asked to search around, without any physical contact. They also could have doubled checked to verify that there was in fact an actual call made.

The Associated Press, (2008, January 27). Lawyers spar over tribal police brutality lawsuit. Rapid City Journal. Retrieved October 4, 2009, from http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/01/27/news/top/doc479cdb311e93a576402603.txt


CItations:


Citations for Image: Image retrieved form the World Wide Web on October, 2, 2009 from: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/17/1052885443126.html


Citations for Policing Styles: Siegel, Larry J (2008). Introduction to Criminal Justice, 297. Video: Video retrieved from YouTube on October 4, 2009 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mp0qs44fsY





Citations for Example of Police Brutality and Corruption: The Associated Press, (2008, January 27). Lawyers spar over tribal police brutality lawsuit. Rapid City Journal. Retrieved October 4, 2009, from: http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/01/27/news/top/doc479cdb311e93a576402603.txt

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