What are the traits of a police culture or subculture?
These traits, according to Skolnick, include “skepticism, cynicism, mistrust of outsiders—all are traits observers of police apply to them and that they apply to themselves” (2008, p….8.1 Police Subculture.
| Positive attributes | Negative attributes |
|---|---|
| Safety | Cynicism |
| Camaraderie | Close-mindedness |
| Empathy | Biases |
| Support | Prejudice |
Can police discretion be eliminated?
Officer discretion is a powerful, basic tool in policing. Removing officer discretion by creating “must arrest” offenses would result in too many unnecessary arrests, while creating “can’t arrest” offenses would result in people ignoring the existing laws.
Is police discretion legal?
In a law enforcement context, discretion only concerns decisions that are made in a legal setting. When decisions that are made by officers do not yield the desired positive results, but are made in good faith, these decisions still fall under the umbrella of discretion.
What type of discretion do judges exercise?
Judicial discretion refers to a judge’s power to make a decision based on his or her individualized evaluation, guided by the principles of law. Judicial discretion gives courts immense power which is exercised when legislature allows for it.
What is the most important prosecutorial discretion?
As an elected or appointed official, the prosecutor is the most powerful official in the criminal justice system. Prosecutors exercise the most discretion in three areas of decision making: the decision to file charges, the decision to dismiss charges, and plea bargaining.
What is the victim called in court?
Defendant: a person who has been formally charged with committing a crime; the person accused of a crime. Defense Attorney: the lawyer who represents the defendant in legal proceedings. Victims are usually not required to speak with defense attorneys except in court, but may do so if they choose.
Who makes more money defense attorney or prosecutor?
Public defenders tend to make slightly more than prosecutors, according to the NALP. As of 2014, starting public defenders reported a median salary of $50,400 per year, while those with five years of experience reported salaries of $63,000 and those with between 11 and 15 years earned a median of $84,500.