CRI210H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Extortion, Selective Enforcement, True Crime

• School: UTSG
• Department: Criminology and Sociolegal Studies
• Course: CRI210H1
• Professor: All

Document Summary

Lecture 4: issues in policing, introduction to the criminal court system and pre-trial decision making. The police subculture: police are the only true crime fighters, nobody can understand policing and crime but those who have worn the badge and patrolled the streets. Police officers have to stick together because everyone is out to get us; an "us vs. them" mentality: It is impossible to fight crime effectively without bending the rules. The police culture: core values: patrol work is the least desirable police activity. Undercover work, detective work and work on special units is more interesting, exciting and rewarding: code of silence/no snitching; Police discretion: the power the police have to choose between two or more law enforcement alternatives. Factors that influence police discretion: citizen/offender characteristic: age, sex, race, social class, personal appearance, etc. Situational factors: seriousness of crime, nature of the police response (reactive or proactive), citizen demeanor, presence of witnesses, etc.