advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer

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. In addition, incidents of police misconduct and discipline will be reduced. 1. Once the jury uses their discretion to render a verdict, the judge may use their discretion in sentencing. The advantages of police discretion are that it makes the position more flexible, allows for quick interpretation and action, and fosters judicial economy. No day will be like the past one and you will always have to adjust your expectations. You will also enjoy great support from your colleagues during your police career. As we can see from the previous chapter, there are definitely many important advantages of working as a police officer. You always feel secure.. Hence, you will have a huge responsibility in this regard and under pressure, chances are that you will also make wrong decisions sooner or later. Often police officers have to deal with angry, distressed citizens or people who do not want to cooperate, which can make police work feel like a thankless job. 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. In fact, if people know that your family and friends know a police officer quite well, they will often act in a more respectful manner since they know that they can get into all sorts of trouble if they misbehave. One important advantage of being a police officer is that cops have a pretty high reputation in society. Discretion fosters judicial economy. In turn, you will have pretty good job prospects and dont have to fear losing your job due to automatization in the near future. Police officers toe the thin blue line, the line between lawfulness and illegal acts. Christine Liddell graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_13',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Yes, there are people who simply dont like them. Hence, your life will depend on the reliability of your colleagues and if you dont want to put your life into the hands of others, chances are that becoming a police officer will not be the right way to go for you. You will often see them proud of their line of work. Due to the bad things and the difficult decisions they have to make during their shifts, many police officers also suffer from serious sleeping issues. The definition of especially heinous, however, is left up to the prosecutor's discretion. 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. You For example, in murder cases, the prosecutor can decide whether or not they want to pursue a first-degree or second-degree murder charge, with first-degree murder being more serious and imposing a harsher penalty. This is quite sad and I just want to give people a more objective picture of how a fulfilling career could look like. In case of emergency, it will be on you to decide whether there is the need to take away the lives of people or not. 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. However, in reality, there are also many downsides related to this job. Departments thrive on performance standards, physical fitness levels, and various talents. In many states, police officers can retire as early as in their 50s, even though they have to accept a reduced pension in such a case. Add to that the ability to help people on a daily basis and this line of work can be very fulfilling. Police officers also get confronted with really bad things during their careers. Among street-level officers who have the most interaction with the public, having a bachelors degree significantly increases commitment to community policing. There are advantages and disadvantages of police discretion, just like there are pros and cons of being a cop. It can be a great alternative to a boring desk job. You may also just not be eligible for a career as a police officer. Officer Bob then sees a person matching the description and follows him on foot. In the long run, this can lead to serious health issues since constant stress is just not good for us. We are selective of where we dine. I admit, this can be annoying at the beginning. Chances are that there would be many more robberies and other unpleasant things. All rights reserved. We can no longer look at the world we live in the same way. Advantages of Being a Police OfficerPolice officers enjoy a high reputation in society. Cops never get bored. Police officers have a high fitness level. Many police officers have an inner motivation to do good for others. Your colleagues will become your second family. Police officers can earn a decent salary. Good future job prospects. You learn how to deal with people. More items Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Quite often, you will also spend your leisure together and some police officers even spend plenty of time together after they retire. Officer Bob decides to intervene. With all these ambitious peers and competitive factors pressuring us, who wants to be at the bottom? While some people dont like this high level of insecurity, others live for it since it gives them a certain level of thrill and excitement. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. The use of discretion allows the police officer the flexibility necessary to perform their job. The order did not mention the need for police to get a college education, even though higher education was identified in the 2015 Presidents Task Force on 21st Century Policing as one of six effective ways to reduce crime and build better relations between police and the communities they serve. Hence, you can make really strong bonds during your career as a police officer and can even make friends for a lifetime. This is due to the fact that police officers often see pretty bad things that they can hardly process in an emotionally healthy manner. Similarly, community-oriented policing emphasizes building relationships with citizens to identify and respond to community crime problems. I feel like its a lifeline. Bringing about meaningful police reform requires transformational leadership. The phrase the thin blue line is often associated with the police. Upon completion of this lesson, students should be able to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. It also requires plenty of paperwork and also legal knowledge. Many studies have shown that we are happier if we do good for others compared to just living in a purely egoistic manner. 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Advantages and disadvantages of police.Police officers often work long hours Also if you think that police officers have a relaxed life, you should think twice. Hence, you dont have to worry about future job opportunities as a police officer that much since there will be plenty of work that still has to be carried out by humans. Especially if this case is revealed in public, chances are that there will be huge shitstorms on social media and the pressure to fire you will be enormous. Consequently, dont be discouraged if your first job as a police officer will not be your dream job. In one study, officers with criminal justice degrees said their education helped them gain managerial skills. Hence, if you want to have this high social standing and the admiration of others, becoming a police officer or nurse practitioner can be the right way to go for you in this regard. An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice. If the defendant does have to stand trial, juries hear the case and use their discretion when deciding whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. By arresting suspects and leading investigations, a police officer can keep the community safe from people who are committing crimes. Being a police officer also implies making difficult decisions. When the police perform their official duties, there is a certain level of discretion they must use. Additionally, there are those who argue that the use of police discretion can potentially result in a violation of one's Fourth Amendment rights. What Are the Major Skills and Traits That a Police Officer Must Have Today?Communication Skills. This is extremely important for a police officer because most of your tasks will get done by communicating with others.Writing Skills. Police officers often need to write incidents reports. Active Listen er. Ability to Obtain Knowledge. Adaptability. Attention to Details. Critical Thinking. Friendly. Empathy and Compassion. More items A 'thin blue line' also exists with police discretion. This also means that you have to interact with the general public on a daily basis and you will also be the one who has to solve conflicts. In any establishment, we choose the seat with our backs to the wall and a view of the entire place. WebAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Police Officers Working Without Uniform Intellectual stimulation One benefit of the detective career is the intellectual stimulation and 60,105 police officers were assaulted while performing their duties in 2020. However, it can also be a dangerous, stressful and difficult job. My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people of all ages about our environmental problems and how everyone can make a contribution to mitigate these issues. In fact, mistakes on your side can lead to horrible outcomes and you should therefore make sure that you act in a responsible manner. These sources are experts and educators within their profession. Especially in your early years as a policeman, you will be on the street quite often. Giving officers the power to make determinations on the job without having to seek approval or permission frees up human and monetary resources. $55,000 per year on average, ranging from $45,000 to $75,000 per year. One Grade 9 student said that the presence of police officers made the high school feel safer than other schools. Officer Bob pulls the car over and requests the driver's license and registration. In turn, you will get to know each other quite well and your colleagues will become your second family. Police discretion is police officers' freedom to make decisions as they perform official duties on a daily basis. 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Police officers may face disciplinary action for making the wrong decision. This will not only make your life as a police officer easier, but you can also profit from it in your private life since the skill to make rational decisions under difficult circumstances is crucial to succeed in various parts of life in general. 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Many police officers are also not able to deal with the emotional burden that comes along with their job. States government, Department of justice at the beginning police misconduct and discipline be. Of justice burden that comes along with their job perform their job prosecutor 's discretion people on a basis... Is police officers even spend plenty of time together after they retire lesson, students should be able deal. Year on average, ranging from $ 45,000 to $ 75,000 per year on average, ranging from 45,000. People on a daily basis and this line of work addition, incidents of discretion! 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