Police Discretion Issues
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I need help with the following scenario, you are acting in the role of a police officer who is dealing with a juvenile. This juvenile is out past curfew. Curfew violations are a city ordinance, and police officers may make an arrest in this situation or decide to handle the offense less formally.
What factors would contribute to your exercising discretion in this scenario?
According to rational choice theory, individuals consciously weigh the risk and reward of an action before they break the law. If you subscribe to rational choice theory, would there be a reason to use discretion in this circumstance?
In understanding conflict theory, discuss how this impacts the officer's decision to arrest or not arrest individuals based on social class. Please include references if applicable.
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Solution Summary
This solution explains the role of a police officer who is dealing with curfew violation by a juvenile. The sources used are also included in the solution.
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There are several factors that I will consider in exercising discretion in this scenario. The first is the number of times curfew has been violated in the past. If curfew violation has been committed in the past, I will arrest the juvenile suspect. The second is the reason provided for curfew violation. For example, if I suspect and search the juvenile and I find durgs on his body, I will arrest the juvenile. The third is whether the juvenile is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Fourth my discretion will be affected by the place of curfew violation. For instance, if a juvenile is far away from his home and there is no reasonable explanation for the violation, I might ...
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