advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer

Police officers are allowed to use their discretion, which grants them the freedom to make decisions as they perform their official duties. For instance, the officer could misinterpret a statute and make an erroneous arrest. direct and indirect speech past tense exercises; tarantula sling not moving; flitch beam span chart; sylvania country club membership fees; bs 3939 electrical and electronic symbols pdf; ninaki priddy date of birth; offspring chris havel wife; airigh 'n eilean; ontario bar exam results 2020 Discretion allows officers to quickly judge a situation, determine what is going on, identify the legal statute that pertains to the case, and interpret that statute. If you dont get any support from the right influential people, your chances of making it to the top will be almost zero. However, the police have to use their discretion when deciding to perform a search. Thus, before deciding for a career as police officer, make sure that you are mentally stable enough to deal with those pictures in your head that will not look pretty most of the time. We constantly scan our surroundings, look for exits, and keep alert. 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Police officers earn above average wages and receive good retirement benefits and pensions at the end of their career. Law enforcement is ever-evolving, and so is the person occupying the uniform. Police discretion allows officers to make decisions when a clear solution may not exist. As long as your kids are still small, they will not realize how dangerous your job really is. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). In order to perform their duties, police must make quick determinations and use their best judgment in situations like whether to draw/fire a weapon, issue a traffic ticket, make an arrest, search someone, or stop or assist a person. You will not only put your own life on the line, also the quality of life of your family will suffer quite a lot since your kids and your spouse will always worry about you. In fact, shifts of 10 hours+ are quite common and this can be really exhausting, especially at nighttime when you will often count every minute until it will eventually be time to go home and fall into your bed. While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many bad things every day. While some people like this insecurity since they get a certain level of excitement out of it, others who need a structured day hate it and if you are the kind of person who wants to play way ahead, chances are that becoming a police officer will just not be the right way to go for you. Consequently, make sure that you are also willing to do this kind of work before deciding to become a police officer. Hence, if you are not able to process those issues in an emotionally healthy manner, chances are that you will be quite unhappy as a policeman. It's not a lame assignment or a job for a cop looking for a cushy job Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. 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. In fact, shifts of police officers can be quite long and depending on what happens in your district, you will have to work long hours and will come home exhausted. It should come as little surprise, then, that police administrators, including police chiefs, are more likely to hold college and post-graduate degrees. While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many Id like to think it made me a better person. When the police perform their official duties, there is a certain level of discretion they must use. There are various reasons why the use of police discretion is a positive aspect of a police officer's position. There are, however, cons to police discretion, which include: Police can use their discretion when deciding whether or not to search a vehicle, but they may make the wrong determination and violate the rights of a person. In turn, you will have pretty good job prospects and dont have to fear losing your job due to automatization in the near future. Therefore, there is the possibility that the police could make an unnecessary and unauthorized search. In fact, you will spend a significant fraction of your day as a police officer writing reports and documenting how things have happened and if you are not willing to do this kind of paperwork, you may want to search for other job opportunities instead. In turn, you can improve the quality of life of many people and can help them out in difficult periods of their lives. 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. An aggravating factor is an aspect of crime that increases an act's severity and culpability. No matter which way you personally feel about the subject, the police must be sure not to cross the 'thin blue line' when it comes to utilizing police discretion. Webnational police and troopers association; Community. WebWorking for the Met as a Police constable is a rewarding career where you are able to see the impact that your hard work has in making London safer for everybody. The job requires long hours, and many officers spend their lives on the force. Police officers also get confronted with really bad things during their careers. 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. In one study, officers with criminal justice degrees said their education helped them gain managerial skills. Policemen also learn how to deal with difficult people early on in their careers. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OOH: Police and Detectives, Police One: The Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer. This could mean that they think that somebody follows them to their house when there will actually nobody be there. Police officers keep our streets safe and resolve conflicts between people on a daily basis. It resonates at home with spouses and children. There will always be the risk to get injured or dying during your shift as a police officer. Among students who participated in a criminal justice service-learning course working with young people in the community, 80% reported a change from stereotypical assumptions that all of them would be criminals to a better understanding of them as individuals with goals and potential - some not so different from the students own dreams. Less likely to use violence. State Law Enforcement Agencies & Roles | What Is State Law Enforcement? Also if you think that police officers have a relaxed life, you should think twice. Share it! You will have to pass many different tests and many people fail those tests. Departments thrive on performance standards, physical fitness levels, and various talents. The various decisions that different participants in the legal system are allowed to make shows what forms discretion takes in criminal justice. Being a police officer is not only about action. Despite the negative impacts of law enforcement, the love for the job is abundant. There are advantages to police discretion, such as allowing officers the flexibility to perform their job, allowing officers to make quick determinations when Thus, make sure that you also have backup plans in case you will not be suitable for a police career. 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. Official websites use .gov Why is being professional important? Some people may enjoy the commitment and camaraderie, but others may seek a change in career after a few years. However, while you can do a great job for your community, it can be quite annoying and exhausting to work at nighttime. However, before you sign your contract, make sure you read this article since I show you all the pros and cons of being a police officer. Many police officers are also not happy with their overall working environment. On the other hand, the use of police discretion has been criticized for negative aspects. This could mean that you will not be able to celebrate Christmas or other important holidays with your family and your kids will be quite sad and may even resent you for that in the long run. Fraternal relationships in law enforcement are very strong. WebPros of a Career as a Probation Officer. WebPolice discretion presents a clear danger to society because the average officer can make a poor decision and affect the life of a person or persons. In fact, being a policeman is not safe at all and you should be aware of the fact that you put your life at risk every time you leave your home. Here are the top recognized benefits of community policing: Improved officer morale: The national narrative around policing has had a significantly negative impact on It can be a great alternative to a boring desk job. Police1 is revolutionizing the way the law enforcement community Whether youre studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers. 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. Being a police officer also doesnt mean that you have to stay in the field you began your career in. The suspect obeys, and Officer Bob makes an arrest. What are five negative and five positive personality adaptations cops undergo after experience on the job? Discretion is important in the criminal justice system because it fosters judicial economy. LockA locked padlock Many children dream of becoming a police officer. Being a police officer also includes writing police reports and doing other paperwork, so it may not be a source of constant thrills. 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. Its the nature of the beast. Christine Liddell graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering. In fact, you will spend plenty of time together and will be able to talk about myriads of different topics. For instance, one disadvantage of being a police officer is that you will not get rich. She has tutored English and History, as well as STEM classes, such as Statics, Calculus, and Thermodynamics. Those attributes we contract from experience tend to become permanent character traits. Police officers usually also get more money if they work on weekends, in the nighttime or on holidays. Sometimes, you will also not be able to choose the neighborhood you have to work in and you might get unlucky and have to work in a rather bad one. There are advantages to police discretion, such as allowing officers the flexibility to perform their job, allowing officers to make quick determinations when applying statutory law, and fostering judicial economy. If anything does go bad, they are here, a Grade 9. WebThe advantages of being a probation officer. Law enforcement officers exercise police discretion when deciding whether or not to draw their weapon, make an arrest, shoot someone, search someone, render assistance to someone, or issue a ticket to someone. Comraderies among peers also deflect negative work thoughts. 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. Lexipol. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. 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. However, Ive quit pretty soon after that since I havent found true meaning in my job. Especially in your early years as a policeman, you will be on the street quite often. As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs. [Youre smart and curious about the world. Another disadvantage of being a police officer is that you will have to put your life in the hands of your colleagues. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_19',189,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Another upside of becoming a police officer is that you will really learn how to deal with many different kinds of people. Many police officers also suffer from serious mental issues. In fact, there is plenty of frustration around in the cop world since many people just had different plans for their lives and thought that being a cop would just be different. Decisions as they perform their official duties not realize how dangerous your job really is after experience on the hand! Able to talk about myriads of different topics also not happy with their overall working environment use of police allows! 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