PERSONAL JUDGEMENT IN DECISION MAKING

POUND'S DEFINITION: AUTHORITY CONFERRED BY LAW TO ACT IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS OR SITUATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN OFFICIAL'S OR AGENCY'S OWN CONSIDERED CONSCIENCE OR JUDGMENT

• A. LEAVE ALONE 85%
  
  
• B. GOLDMAN FOUND 64% WERE HANDLED INFORMALLY AND RELEASED WITHOUT COURT REFERRAL
  
  

1. LEGAL FACTORS
   
   
   
   • A. SERIOUSNESS OF OFFENSES
     (THINK ABOUT THE ARRESTS OF STATUS OFFENDERS, HOWEVER)
     
     
   • B. PRIOR ARREST RECORD

     (OTHER INFLUENCES I.E. RACE)

     
     
     
   • C. AUDIENCE

     ATTITUDE OF COMPLAINANT,BYSTANDERS

     
     
     
   • D. PRESENCE OF EVIDENCE

   • E. SITUATION IN WHICH IT OCCURED
   
   
   
2. ENFIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES
   • GENERAL COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
   • POLICIES, CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES OF THE DEPARTMENT
   • INDIVIDUAL SUPERIORS AND SUPERVIORS
   • PEER PRESSURE
   
   
   
3. NON-LEGAL FACTORS
   
   
   
   • ATTITUDE & DEMEANOR OF OFFENDER
     
     
     
   • POLITICAL PRESSURES
     
     
   • INDIVIDUAL BIAS
     
     
   • RACE

     SERIOUS OFFENDERS TREATED THE SAME, MINOR OFFENDERS NOT.

     VICIOUS CIRCLE

     
     
     
   • SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

     MIXED RESULTS, AREAS VS. INDIVIDUALS

     
     
     
   • SEX

     3/4 FEMALES WERE IN SYSTEM FOR STATUS OFFENSES IN 1975

     VIOLATE SEX ROLE EXPECTATIONS
     
     IT IS STILL TRUE GIRLS ARE MORE LIKLEY TO BE ARRESTED FOR STATUS OFFENSES BY POLICE THEN FOR PROPERTY OR PERSON CRIMES
     
     

   • AGE

     UNDER 10 - MINIMAL, 15-18 MORE LIKELY TO BE PROCESSED

     
     
     
   • FAMILY STATUS

     POLICE OFTEN VIEW FAMILY AS AT FAULT

     
     
     
   • CHARACTERISTICS OF OFFICER

     LENGTH OF TIME ON JOB, ATTITUDES, RACE SEX, ETC.

     
     
     
   • DEPARTMENT CHARACTERISTICS

     STYLES; POLICY; SEPARATE UNITS

• A. IGNORE, OUTRIGHT RELEASE
  
  
  
• B. RELEASE & SUBMISSION OF JUVENILE CARD
  
  
  
• C. OFFICIAL REPRIMAND AND RELEASE TO PARENTS OF GUARDIANS
  
  
  
• D. REFERRAL TO JUVENILE COURT AND RELEASED
  
  
  
• E. ARREST & DETENTION BEFORE INTAKE

• A. SPECIAL NEEDS OF POLICE IN THIS AREA OF ENCOUNTERS
  
  
  
• B. KIDDIE COPS,
  
  
  

  DIAPER DICKS

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Copyright: © 2001, John Hamlin
Last Modified: Friday, 17-Jul-1998 04:41:27 CDT
Page URL: http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/jhamlin/3315/police.html
Page Coordinator:John Hamlin