Criminal Justice - Police Function - Quick Guides

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Study GuideCriminal JusƟce–Police FuncƟon1. Police SystemsPolice agencies in the United States work at many different levels. Together, they form a large andcomplex system designed to keep communities safe and enforce the law.Across the country, there are about17,500 police agenciesoperating at the national, state, county,and city levels. These agencies employmore than 800,000 people, including both sworn officers andcivilian staff.1.1 Types of Police AgenciesThese agencies fall into several major categories:•50 federal law enforcement agencies•49 state police departments•1,721 special police agencies, such as transit police and school police•3,086 sheriff’s departments•12,502 municipal (city) policedepartmentsEach type of agency has its own role and area of responsibility.1.2 Federal Law Enforcement AgenciesFederal police agencies operate as part of theexecutive branch of the U.S. government. Theirmain job is to enforce federal laws and address crimes that affect the nation as a whole.

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Study Guide1.3 Major Federal Agencies1.3.1Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)The FBI is part of theDepartment of Justice (DOJ)and investigates more than200 types of federalcrimes. Its main focus areas include:•Terrorism•Organized crime (including drug trafficking)•White-collar crime•Civil rights violations•Violent crimes such as bank robbery and kidnappingThe FBI also supports other law enforcement agencies by providing crime statistics, forensic labservices, fingerprint databases, and training through its academy. As organized crime has grownmore powerful, the FBI has received expanded authority, including the ability to conduct wiretaps.1.3.2Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF)The ATF investigates crimes involvingfirearms and explosives. It also targets outlaw motorcyclegangs that violate federal laws related to weapons, explosives, and drug trafficking.1.3.3Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)The DEA, another DOJ agency, is responsible for enforcingfederal drug laws. Its agents investigatedrug crimes, seize illegal drugs, and arrest drug traffickers.1.3.4U.S. Marshals ServiceU.S. marshals providesecurity for federal courtsand protect federal judges (except Supreme Courtjustices, who have their own police force). Marshals also:•Capture escaped federal prisoners•Supervise people arrested on federal charges

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Study Guide•Run thefederal witness protection program, which gives new identities and protection tokey witnesses in federal cases1.3.5Secret ServiceThe Secret Service has two main responsibilities:•Investigating counterfeiting of U.S. currency•Protecting the president and other high-ranking federal officials1.3.6Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)The INS was responsible for enforcing immigration laws. Its agents patrolled U.S. borders, preventedillegal entry, and deported people who violated immigration laws.During the 1990s, INS efforts focused heavily on theU.S.–Mexico border, where large numbers ofundocumented immigrants and illegal drugs entered the country. Although hundreds of thousands ofpeople were arrested each year, many more still managed to enter the United States.1.4 The InternaƟonalizaƟon of Law EnforcementCrime is no longer limited by national borders. Because of global problems such asdrug trafficking,money laundering, and terrorism, U.S. law enforcement agencies now operate internationally.By1998, more than1,500 American law enforcement officerswere stationed inover 50 countries.Their goal was to work with foreign governments to fight crime before it reached the United States.1.5 State PoliceAlmost every state has its own police force with authority across the entire state.Hawaii is the onlyexception.TheCalifornia Highway Patrolis the largest state police agency in the country. State police leadersare usuallyappointed by the governor.1.6 ResponsibiliƟes of State PoliceState police agencies may:

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Study Guide•Assist local police with major criminal investigations•Maintain statewide crime records•Patrol highways and major roads•Operate crime laboratories•Train city and county police officers1.7 County Police: Sheriff’s DepartmentsSheriffs are responsible for law enforcement inrural and unincorporated areasof counties. Theposition of sheriff iselected, not appointed.DuƟes of SheriffsMany sheriffs handle a wide range of responsibilities, including:•Law enforcement•Court security•CorrectionsIn many states, sheriffs:•Operate county jails•Serve as officers of the county courts•Provide bailiffs for courtroom security•Transport prisoners•Serve legal documents, such assubpoenas and warrantsSheriff’s departments vary greatly in size.•TheLos Angeles County Sheriff’s Departmentis the largest, withover 11,000 full-timeemployees.•At the other extreme,19 sheriff’s departments have only one employee.

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Study Guide1.8 Municipal (City) PoliceMunicipal police departments make up thelargest number of agenciesand employmost swornpolice officers. They handle the majority ofviolent crimein the United States.In large cities, police chiefs are usuallyappointed by mayors or city managers.Big City vs. Small Town PolicingPolice departments differ greatly depending on the size of the city and the types of crime they face.The“Big Six” departments—New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and Detroit—deal with the highest levels of serious violent crime.•TheNew York Police Department (NYPD)employs more than36,000 full-time officers.•Large departments often face intense public attention, including media coverage of shootings,scandals, and corruption.In contrast,most police departments are very small. In these communities, officers spend much oftheir time handling:•Traffic violations•Minor disputes•Everyday community concerns2. Police OrganizaƟonMost police departments in the United States are organized in a very specific way. They arebureaucratic organizationsand often operate with amilitary-style structure. This type oforganization shapes how officers work, how decisions are made, and how the public experiencespolicing.2.1 The Police BureaucracyPolice departments are structured asbureaucracies, which means they follow a formal andorganized system.

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Study Guide2.2 Key Features of Police BureaucracyPolice bureaucracies are characterized by:•Specialization of duties, where officers and staff have specific roles and responsibilities•Objective qualificationsfor jobs, such as training and exams•Strict rules and regulationsthat guide daily actions•A clearchain of command, where authority flows from top leaders down to officers in thefieldThis structure is designed tomaximize efficiencyand ensure that departments operate in aconsistent and organized way.2.3 Drawbacks of BureaucracyWhile bureaucracy can be efficient, it also has disadvantages. In police work, bureaucracy can:•Limit flexibility when officers need to respond to unique situations•Make departments seem indifferent to individual or community needs•Create excessivered tape, where too many rules slow down decision-making and problem-solvingAs a result, strict bureaucracy can sometimes interfere with effective policing.2.4 Quasi-Military Features of Police DepartmentsIn addition to being bureaucratic, most police departments arequasi-military organizations,meaning they share many features with the military.Military-Style CharacterisƟcsPolice departments often include:•Uniformsthat promote authority and unity•Firearms and equipmentsimilar to military gear•Arank structure, such as patrol officer, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain

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Study Guide•Anauthoritarian command system, where orders move from the top down with little inputfrom lower ranksPolice departments also borrow military language, such as referring to crime control as the“war oncrime.”2.5 Problems with the Military ModelThe military style can create serious challenges. When police see themselves as being at war withcrime, it can lead to an“ends justify the means” mindset. This belief suggests that any action isacceptable if it helps fight crime.This way of thinking can result in:•Police perjury•Unnecessary use of force or violence•Other abuses of powerThese outcomes damage public trust and undermine justice.2.6 Police Management StylesPolitical scientistJames Q. Wilsonidentified three main styles of police management. Each stylereflects a different philosophy about how officers should do their jobs.2.6.1 Watchman StyleThewatchman stylefocuses onmaintaining order, especially in communities with higher levels ofdisorder.•Officers oftenignore minor violations•Disputes are settled informally•Officers may usestreet justicerather than formal legal actionThis style values peace and stability over strict law enforcement.

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