LAWS 2301 Lecture : Crim Class 8.doc
Document Summary
Police: functions, selective enforcement, powers, duties, realities, review/accountability mechanisms, prosecutors. Police: distorted view of police, varies, agents of the state- protected by state and criticized by state, don"t criticize institution of police but on individual aberrations rather than systemic. Functions of police: maintain law and order, and to protect, prevent crime, detection/arrest, charging responsibilities (often with the crown, controlling traffic, act as witnesses, give advice, assistance, support. Selective enforcement: how/why: duty to uphold law always, allocation of resources on practical grounds. If there is no evidence why would i proceed: we tend not to have any agency accountability. It is always the police officers fault the bad apple: how do we ensure equal treatment when so many of the factors are not equal. Changing crime trends: understanding dna, drunk driving, internet crimes. Different needs by policing since the crimes are changing. The way we can steal from people, kill people, promote hatred etc. has changes. changing investigative techniques.