Many people will also secretly admire you for what you are doing for them. Of the 60,105 assaulted officers, 31% sustained injuries. The various decisions that different participants in the legal system are allowed to make shows what forms discretion takes in criminal justice. Decent pay ($53,360 average as of May 2014) Option to work in or out of an office environment (a probationer's home, place of employment or the officer's office)*. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Expectation versus reality probably exists for all of us in different forms and fashions. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-3','ezslot_21',193,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-3-0'); Networks are crucial for promotions, not only as a police officer but also in the corporate world. Policemen also learn how to deal with difficult people early on in their careers. In turn, you will have pretty good job prospects and dont have to fear losing your job due to automatization in the near future. Many organizations allow workouts on duty and participate in dietetic and nutritional training for their employees. This is necessary since most unlawful activities happen at nighttime. If anything does go bad, they are here, a Grade 9. Official websites use .gov It is also not that easy to become a police officer. They also get paid for family leave, sick leave, vacation and long-term disabilities. There are various reasons why the use of police discretion is a positive aspect of a police officer's position. As a police officer, you have the power to significantly improve the conditions in your neighborhood since you can send people who behave in a criminal manner to court and many of them will end up in jail and can no longer have a bad influence on your neighborhood. This is quite logical since whenever you need the police, something bad has happened to others. Lexipol. Imagine that Officer Bob is on patrol when he notices that an automobile is driving in the rain without its lights on, which is against the law in the state. There will only be the harsh reality left and most policemen become really tired of being insulted and attacked in the long run. Professionalism in the police force has several positive impacts that include good service to the public, better pay for the constables, ethical conduct, strong community support as well as respect and a stronger role in a Criminal Justice System. interacts online and researches product purchases Being a police officer can be incredibly rewarding. Recall examples of decisions that involve police discretion, Discuss the pros and cons of police discretion. Police officers toe the thin blue line, the line between lawfulness and illegal acts. Disadvantages of Security Officers. Police officers are given the freedom to use police discretion and make decisions on the job and in the heat of the moment. The more ambitious you are, the more people you can help and this can give you a feeling of having a purpose in life. It requires hours of sitting and driving, which can cause weight issues and other health concerns. Taken together, all of these skills are essential for successful policework. All rights reserved. Research shows that, overall, college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints. 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. The Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer Pros. Check out the top positive things about being a cop. One attractive aspect of being a police officer is the financial security you will have. Cons. Being a police officer is rewarding, but also challenging. Now You Know the Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer. As you can see, there are many wonderful things about being a police officer. Another upside of a career as a police officer is that you can also get significant levels of responsibility already early on in your career. Because police officers are in constant danger, we are also overly suspicious of everything and everyone. Another advantage of becoming a police officer is that you will also stay quite fit during your active career. You still want to become a police officer? However, the police have to use their discretion when deciding to perform a search. Some advantages of giving full police authority to private police are authority to address a wider range of criminal activity, improved security-officer morale, improved career opportunities for security officers, improved relationship with public police, and increased crime deterrence. In fact, teamwork is key during your operations and if you have colleagues that dont have your back, you may even lose your life due to that. Officers genuinely care about making a positive impact in their community. This in turn better enables them to more rigorously and regularly evaluate policies and practices adopted by their departments. Additionally, there are those who argue that the use of police discretion can potentially result in a violation of one's Fourth Amendment rights. We would be lost without our firearm and badged clipped to our waistbands. Consequently, dont be discouraged if your first job as a police officer will not be your dream job. Since you will never know what you have to deal with next, your body and your brain will always be exposed to some level of tension during your shift. In fact, many police officers see things during their career that are that disgusting that they have difficulties to mentally process and to forget them their whole lives. Many police officers also suffer from sleep deprivation or even insomnia. If you make mistakes, you may also get fired. A police officer can also impact the area they serve as a whole. In fact, not all police officers have good intentions and you should be quite careful in case your boss tries to push you in such a direction. The following are the types of decisions that might require a police officer to use their own discretion. As a police officer, you can also work in many different fields. For example, many departments employ de-escalation tactics that aim to reduce use of force. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). We cant sit still nor do we seem to have the mindset at times to settle down at home. There are advantages and disadvantages of police discretion, just like there are pros and cons of being a cop. Comraderies among peers also deflect negative work thoughts. Officers with a bachelors degree reportedly: have fewer citizen complaints choose options short of an arrest to resolve problems are less authoritarian are more ethical have fewer disciplinary problems compared to their high school graduate counterparts What are the reported disadvantages of a bachelors degree? However, I will not take any responsibility for incorrect information and will not be liable for any negative consequences that might occur due to the reliance on this information. Chances are that there would be many more robberies and other unpleasant things. What are five negative and five positive personality adaptations cops undergo after experience on the job? Colleges and universities can help officers acquire the skills needed to help to reestablish trust between our communities and those who are sworn to protect and serve. You will often see them proud of their line of work. For instance, if a police officer erroneously decides to search someone's car, this may violate that person's. This is not only quite sad, it also makes the job of police officers much more difficult since people often just no longer comply with the commands of policemen. Another advantage of becoming a police officer is that it can also help you overcome your fears. Since there will always be people who dont comply with the law, police officers will always be needed and your future job prospects will be quite decent. Being a police officer in America is a tough job.. They also make sure that people who dont play according to the rules get arrested. I show you all the pros and cons of being a police officer so you can make a profound decision of whether you still want to become a police officer or not. There are many pros and cons of being a security officer. A critical step in knowing whether an approach is achieving its intended goal is evaluating its impact. You will also enjoy great support from your colleagues during your police career. Introduction to Human Geography: Help and Review, ILTS School Counselor (235): Test Practice and Study Guide, Introduction to American Government: Certificate Program, DSST Fundamentals of Counseling: Study Guide & Test Prep, Introduction to Counseling: Certificate Program, DSST Human Cultural Geography: Study Guide & Test Prep, Introduction to Human Geography: Certificate Program, Foundations of Education: Certificate Program, Foundations of Education: Help and Review, American Government Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, Introduction to Criminal Justice Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, Foundations of Education Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, Create an account to start this course today. In fact, most police officers dont earn more than 70,000 dollars a year and especially in big metropolitan areas, this will imply a rather simple lifestyle since rents will eat up a significant fraction of the income. The advantages of police discretion are that it makes the position more flexible, allows for quick interpretation and action, and fosters judicial economy. A high fitness level is crucial to maintain a high quality of life and therefore, becoming a police officer can also improve your life in general. Police officers toe the thin blue line between lawfulness and illegal acts, due to their unique position in society. Police discretion, however, has been criticized because it may result in the incorrect application of certain statutes and thereby violate someone's rights, such as their right to not be subjected to unlawful search and seizure as defined by the Fourth Amendment. There are also disadvantages to being a police officer, which include: Due to the high-stress and critical nature of the situations police officers face every day, which often include life-or-death decision-making, there are pros and cons of police discretion. There is just that much insecurity involved in this job that you will never know when you are called to the next operation. Specialty assignments hone in on someones individual talents whether they are born or made. This makes it really difficult since you will never know whether you will be able to pick up your kids the next week or not. Consequently, it may also be hard for police officers to build trust with others and to make really good friends since they may always mistrust people right from the beginning. WebAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Police Officers Working Without Uniform Intellectual stimulation One benefit of the detective career is the intellectual stimulation and While some people will be rather cooperative, others will try to insult you or to bring you down whenever they can. Christine Liddell graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering. An aggravating factor is an aspect of crime that increases an act's severity and culpability. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-2','ezslot_20',190,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-2-0');Since you will often have to deal with difficult people and have to see many unpleasant things, you will soon take things less seriously and your overall frustration tolerance will increase as well. You always feel secure.. During your career, you will often have the chance to support people who urgently need it. Police Corruption Examples, Types & History | What is Police Corruption? WebPhotos by Chris Roussakis. Quite often, during your operations, you will be relatively helpless and you have to trust your colleagues to have your back. It also gives them the chance to get to know the communities they will police. All of these things have been shown to increase critical thinking, moral reasoning and openness to diversity. Police work is particularly dynamic and no day is the same. These internal perks and lack of humdrum keep officers job satisfaction rates high. For instance, one disadvantage of being a police officer is that you will not get rich. Additionally, one study found that police departments that required at least a two-year degree for officers had a lower rate of officers assaulted by civilians compared to departments that did not require college degrees. You will also have to make difficult decisions within minutes or even seconds and your life will not be as easy as you might think now. Uniform Stories covers an array of subjects like field stories, entertaining anecdotes, and expert opinions. In any establishment, we choose the seat with our backs to the wall and a view of the entire place. Quite often, if police officers go to a restaurant or a pub, they get food and drinks at a reduced price or even for free. Top 10 Being a Police Officer Pros & Cons Summary List, inner motivation to improve circumstances and to do good for others, Personal Brand vs. Corporate Brand: 24 Key Pros & Cons, 24 Key Pros & Cons Of Investing In (Retro) Video Games, 34 Major Pros & Cons Of Investing In Comic Books, Gold Bars vs. Gold Coins: 23 Precious Pros & Cons, 31 Cool Pros & Cons Of Owning A Classic Car, 24 Key Pros & Cons Of Unemployment Benefits, 32 Key Pros & Cons Of Investing In Trading Cards, 30 Precious Pros & Cons Of Investing In Art, You learn how to deal with difficult people, Police officers have a good fitness level, Being a police officer lets you grow in character, Variety of different fields you can work in, Police officers often suffer from mental issues, You can improve conditions in your community, Police officers have to make difficult decisions, Police officers can retire relatively early, Mistakes of your colleagues can cost your life. Now I can do what I really love to do and I want to enable as many other people as well to go this exciting path towards happiness instead of money. It can be a great alternative to a boring desk job. Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. However, in reality, there are also many downsides related to this job. The salaries are relatively handsome. In my opinion, people often make the mistake to choose their profession solely based on how much money they can earn from it instead of doing what makes them really happy. You may also have to work quite long shifts as a policeman. As a police officer, you will surely be both loved and hated. Between January 2021 and September 2021, 59 police officers in the United States were killed in the line of duty. Lexipol. Community policing and problem-oriented policing require problem solving and creative thinking skills that the college experience helps develop. This will also be quite hard for yourself since you will never know whether you will see your kids again or not. See disclaimer. In turn, you will become much more relaxed. Police discretion examples include an officer's decision whether or not to draw their weapon, to make an arrest, to issue a traffic ticket, to perform a search on a suspect, or to stop and assist someone in need of help. Police officers with at least some college experience are more focused on promotion and expect to retire at a higher rank compared to officers with no college. Thus, every goodbye will sound strange and will have a sad implication of what might happen sooner or later. In fact, it is not easy at all to be a police officer and to deal with all the emotional burden that comes along with it. You may start your career as normal patrolman, but you can get promoted pretty soon if you are ambitious enough and are willing to put in the work. The 2015 task force recommended community and problem-oriented policing strategies as ways to strengthen police-community relations and better respond to crime and other social problems. In fact, it can even make you much stronger and overcoming our fears is crucial to really grow in character and to develop a more stable personality. This can be rather annoying, especially if you have a family and dont know how to manage your private life since you often dont know the exact hours of your shift. However, it can also be a dangerous, stressful and difficult job. If officers had to ask permission from judges for every decision they were faced with, this would be inefficient and costly. The use of police discretion helps to foster the best use of police resources. Many people hail police officers as being heroes and consider them to be brave and helpful people they can count on to come to their rescue in a time of need. While police officers can make a decent salary in many states, they will simply not make as much money as a doctor or a lawyer. Some disadvantages of empowering private police with full police authority are the attraction which such authority holds for many undesirable candidates, the risk of increasing unnecessary arrests, limited constitutional restraints on private security employees compared to public police, the increased liability of government entities for actions of private security officers they have licensed, the risk of inequitable enforcement, and expanded administrative responsibilities for municipal governments licensing private police. Activities happen at nighttime of us in different forms and fashions humdrum keep officers job satisfaction high. Sustained injuries your career, you will surely be both loved and hated that! In many different fields if you make mistakes, you will never know you... 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advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer