Criminal Justice : The United States

The speaker argues that the criminal justice system in America treats you better if you're rich and guilty than if you're poor and innocent. Do you agree? Why or why not?

United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2015, December 17). Bureau of Labor Statistics. (O. o. Projections, Editor, & United States Department of Labor) Retrieved January 2017, from Occupational Outlook Handbook: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/prtective-service/police-and-detectives.htm

During the first phase of the police professionalism movement in the early twentieth century, training was viewed as a promising means to develop more responsible officers and agencies (Klinger,2012). Conversely, due to the progression of society and emerging technologies, training became the basis of American policing as it enables and educates enough to carry out their duties in a fair, effective, and lawful manner (Klinger, 2012). This education is afforded through a formal academy that teaches the recruits all they need to know in a matter of months. Once this phase is completed, recruits are then put out on an apprenticeship with a seasoned officer to learn the tips and tricks of the trade through real world experience the. Once this

Training is one of the most important roles at a law enforcement agency. It is never-ending as “concepts, theories, philosophies, practices, procedures, and techniques are constantly changing to meet social needs” (Iannone et al, 2009, p. 60). Without training, even the best officer will turn into one that is not respected by his peers or society. Gone are the days when an officer is sent to the training academy and has no more except for yearly inservice. This can be accomplished with field training after the academy, roll call training, inservice, emailed updates from the training staff, and outside the agency training. It does not always have to be expensive. Most think that the effectiveness of training can’t be measured, but successful training can easily be seen through “higher morale, less job stress with its high economic cost, greater esprit de corps, a lessened need for punitive discipline, greater effectiveness, in crime suppression, increased public support and confidence, fewer errors, better

In some small towns, new officers get their training by working with an experienced officer. Inexperienced officers always are accompanied by veteran officers in order for them to learn. In bigger cities, police departments give classroom instructions in laws, accident investigation, city ordinances, and traffic control. Also they give instruction in the handling of firearms, methods of apprehension and arrest, self-defense tactics, and first-aid techniques. Even when you become an officer, you might still have to be trained in order to use new equipment as technology becomes more advanced.

Courts are established social, political, and judicial institutions necessary for the manifestation of justice and the maintenance of law and order. The courts are part of the judicial branch of government, as outlined in Article III of the United States Constitution. Courts are the arenas in which the law is tried and applied. Judges are the presiding officers of the court. The United States Supreme Court is the most fundamental court because has "the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve other disputes over them," (United States Courts, 2012). This is true even though even though the court does not expressly enforce that law; enforcement is the province of the executive branch.

Many people might argue that the lack of training in the police force is more harmful to the officers than the effect it has on society. Leslie Pfeiffer mentions in her article “” that the Federal government devotes a shocking amount of money toward training, yet local police agencies are often left to fend for themselves” (Pfeiffer). Whatsoever the federal government may be doing with the funds should undoubtedly be providing effective programs and necessities to ensure a complete and sufficient training process for officers. Often time’s people forget that although the officer is vulnerable to failure, error, and possible injury, in the event of a possible suspect or wrongfully accused person the lack of knowledge perceived by the officer can cause outcomes such as hostility, hatred, and death. Not only are officers fending for themselves but in

A Need for Change: The Importance of Continued Training and Education for Modern Day Police Officers Michael- Criminal Justice Institute

Looking at the training on the local level in relation to that of the training academy in Bristol offers a stark difference in the time to train the local law enforcement. The training guide to law enforcement offers that the average training program for local police is about six weeks of training (Academy, 2008). The levels of training reflects the needs of the law enforcement officer and the occurrences that the officer will likely encounter in the field on his patrol. The training of officers usually consists of a classroom part and a field training part. The sessions of training often provide the officers with a balance for the skills and techniques that the officer will likely employ in the field. Such skills and techniques as firearms training, handcuffing, and paperwork preparation are usually training received at a police academy.

Anthony Pinizzotto concludes that, “Training should be viewed as an investment law enforcement agencies make for the present and future.” I agree that investing in training may pay dividends towards the future of the department, and there should be a constant evaluation of the training needs of the department. During economic hardships many departments, who may already find themselves lacking funding, to feeling as though they have to produce more with less. I agree with Pinizzotto’s perspective that training is like the structure of a house and each serves a purpose as he mentioned entrance-level training, in-service training, supervisory training, and administrative training.

There is a debate that is as controversial as police officers holding a degree and that is whether the law enforcement career is a profession or craft. Although, the classification of police work as a craft, trade, or a profession was the subject of intense controversy, there appeared to be little doubt that the trend toward professionalization was exerting a powerful impact on the field of law enforcement. Many officers argue that policing is a craft that you must have passion for and academies are irrelevant to learning police work. In order, to become a good officer one must gain experience and knowledge on the job. Then you have others who say that policing is a profession with education a central feature. They believe that one

A: I went to Western Illinois university for my bachelors degree, which is 4 years for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. After College I spend 2 weeks shadowing my FTO (field training officer) for on the job training. After words we spend time in PTI (police training institute for about 5 weeks.

The established varying of education and experience levels, it is not without its downside. Most departments employ officers with wide-ranging education and experience levels. Despite new recruits becoming socialized into police culture the education police officers obtain or experience contribute significantly to the decision making by the police. It is sensible to presume that both college education or experience are aspects that could affect the influence of educated performance (Paoline & Terrill,

Law enforcement officers are inducted into the police subculture early in their career. As early as the academy, law enforcement recruits begin learning about ethics, rank structure, ethos, and other values. During the academy, recruits are trained on specific tasks tailored to police work from 8 to 16 weeks. They are taught combative skills, marksmanship, defensive driving, and other techniques unique to law enforcement by the academy staff. The academy staff normally consists of seasoned officers that usually have military training or backgrounds. In most cases, recruits tend to emulate or try to identify with these officers.

     The curriculum that is devised for a police officer is very important to the police officer and his or her success in their chosen career path. An officer’s training is also very important to the community in which they serve and the department in which they work. An officer must receive training in a variety of fields to help them be a well-rounded police officer. Officers receive training in such areas as: law, community relations, firearms, vehicle driving, search and seizure, and cultural awareness. The basic curriculum that is offered to a new recruit is focused on giving the recruit the best overall training that will give him or her the tools necessary to become the