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Controversial Issues in Law Enforcement

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Judy Wilson
Controversial Issues in Law Enforcement

Law enforcement is a system through which certain members in the society detect, deter, and maintain order. In various states, the authorities or governments have a duty to maintain law and order. Police, the army, and other security organs undertake the practice. Various issues are involved in law enforcement. Criticism on the manner the law enforcement agencies undertake their assignments is common in the media and among civil society organizations. The essay professor reviews highlight a few instances of controversial issues within the law enforcement ranks.

Use of Police Dogs

The police are equipped with dogs as a tool to deter and apprehend criminals or those suspected who have broken the law. Dogs use their instincts to deter a crime. When well-trained, dogs assist to detect drugs or weapons. Dogs also alert other security organs of a danger or alarm through barking. Those concerned are informed accordingly to take remedial action. Therefore, dogs are very important in maintaining law and order.

As presented above, there is no doubt that dogs enhance the capacity of security agencies to maintain order. However, certain aspects concerning the use of dogs have raised concerns on the suitability and ability of dogs to appropriately assist law enforcement officers in fighting crime. Recently, RCMP police dogs apprehended a youth in Surrey. They bit the youth, broke his nose, and left him with deep wounds. In the same period, an RCMP constable and dog handler from Kelowna was arrested and charged for assault. He had allegedly used his dog to intimidate and punch a man during a confrontation outside a pub.

In the first case, the dog seriously injured an innocent youth. Several questions have been raised on the adequacy of the training imparted on the dogs. The expected response of the dogs is supposed to instill fear to those to be apprehended. On very rare occasions, the dogs bite or cause injury to suspects. Dogs are supposed to alert the police about the need to act. Any response is supposed to come from the police and not from the dogs. They are animals. They lack the understanding capacity to comprehend certain aspects like humans. In such cases, where their actions get out of hand, it calls into question their reliability to carry out their duties diligently. In the second case, dogs have been used to cause disorder. That calls for a review on the training of dogs as agents for law enforcement. Due to such cases, there is a doubt as to the appropriateness of dogs in maintenance of law and order.

Curfews on Juveniles to Reduce Crime

Juveniles are children below the legal age; hence, they do not have capacity to make binding decisions. Garoupa and Klerman observed that a substantial number of the young people engage in criminal activities. The most notable ones are drugs and other felonies. Various suggestions have been presented on how to counter the rise of crime amongst the juveniles. One of the recommended solutions entails the imposition of curfew amongst the youth. Limiting their movements will deter the crime.

Crime is a wrong committed against the person or contrary to laws of the land. Efforts to contain crime are commendable. On the other hand, the Constitution and other supreme laws provide for amongst other rights the freedom to move and associate. Anyone is free to move from one location to another; such movement does not limit other citizens’ rights to enjoy their freedoms.

An effort to curtail the freedom of juveniles is a violation of their rights. It is expected that limiting juveniles’ movements would inhibit their development. The issue remains debatable amongst the juveniles, their parents, and law enforcement agencies. Civil society organizations have raised their objections to the proposal. The right to enjoy free movement is imperative to all human beings.

Police Executive Contracts

There are suggestions to have executive police on contracts as a way to enhance their performance. Recent crime reports indicate a surge in crime in many parts. The most affected ones are urban centers. The police are accorded the responsibility to fight crime. Critics have accused the police of failure to effectively undertake their duties. Suggestions have been given to have the police executives put under contract. Any renewals of their contracts would be based on performance during their preceding tenures.

Proponents of the idea hold that under such conditions, the police would give their best and deliver on their work. There is no doubt that under contracts, the police will strive to offer the best quality of service. However, those opposed to the idea claim that the police could be offering their best in vain. Crime records cannot be used to indicate efficiency or inefficiency of the security organs. One critical question that emerges is what the criteria or technique in appraising the police executives would be used. The matter remains unresolved as various stakeholders ponder on the way forward.

The Media and Law Enforcement

The media is useful within any societal setup since many people rely on it to access information. Recent reporting of the media on crime has raised concerns on the correctness or adequacy of the media to report matters of crime accurately. Some people have suggested that the media is an ally of the law enforcement agencies. The argument by those who claim that the media and law enforcement should work closely is based on the premise that in case the latter reports accurately, then various state agencies and the public would lose confidence in the security agencies.

The media may also desire to use a strategy to balance reporting. A wide coverage and reporting on certain crimes may cause panic within some quarters of the society. The objective is to uphold a balanced coverage of events involving crime. Such measures have raised concerns on the media’s commitment to accurate reporting. It is expected that the truth should be told. Those who consume the information can then make a decision based on correct reporting. It remains to be seen the route to be taken in light of the debate.

Police Brutality and Misconduct

The police are called upon to maintain law and order in the society. Their actions or inactions are meant to promote peace and coexistence. However, certain actions of the members of the police force raise questions on the capacity to undertake their assignments appropriately. Police stand accused for employing excessive force, invasion of privacy, and brutality. In one reported instance, Beaver was allegedly beaten up by use of Tasers, five times, for failure to comply with police orders. Some of the commands claimed to have been given by the police were contradictory. The case represents a scenario where the police failed to adhere to appropriate measures in order to apprehend a criminal.

In another instance, an officer mistakenly grabbed a gun instead of a Taser when following a suspect. The alleged suspect was subsequently shot by a bullet, and was injured in the process. In this case, it is arguable that negligence occurred. The officer who specializes in arms must have contemplated the outcomes of his actions. The incident when the police officer grabbed a wrong tool for work cannot be sustained. The training of police officers is expected to be thorough. Such unfortunate instances ought not to occur.

Parole search authority across the nation is also another issue of controversy in the law enforcement division. Following the case in Sampson v. California and United States v. Knights, various states are considering laws that would permit suspicion-less searches of parolees. This implies that the police would be able to conduct a search even when they do not have a reasonable cause to believe a wrong is about to be committed. Various constitutions have allowances for rights to privacy. Where the police have powers to carry out a search without cause, this would consider a violation of one’s basic human rights. Controversy still ringers on the possibility and legality of such proposed laws.

The law enforcement division is encountered with numerous controversial matters. They range from the use of their tools to undertake assignments, the concept of curfew on juveniles as a measure to deter crime among the young, the relation of the force with the media, the issue of contracts on police executives, and police brutality and use of excessive force. Instances where the police have failed to satisfy the public of their capacity to maintain order are a common phenomenon. The controversy rages partially due to certain failures by the members of the police. Consultations between all stakeholders and the police would be advisable. Sharing of views on the best ways to counter crime would serve to afford solutions rather than introduce new but impractical methods to deter crime.

 

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