cj mid term exam

made from the ai notes

Sir Robert Peel

Helped establish modern professional policing through uniforms, rules, training, discipline, and a chain of command.

Professionalization

Development of policing into a trained, organized, and accountable profession.

August Vollmer

Helped professionalize policing through better training, police academies, education, forensics, and improved judgment.

Political Era

Period when police had low pay, poor training, political influence, and few professional standards.

Community Policing

Policing approach focused on prevention, problem solving, and relationships between police and the community.

Discretion

An officer’s ability to use judgment when deciding between actions such as a warning, ticket, or arrest.

Sworn Officers

Police employees with peace officer powers.

Civilian Personnel

Employees who support police through dispatch, records, administration, and other duties.

Patrol

Backbone of most police agencies and usually handles the initial response and investigation.

Detectives

Officers who conduct follow-up investigations after patrol begins a case.

Mission Statement

General statement describing an agency’s purpose, goals, values, and services.

Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment

Study found that different levels of patrol changed perceptions of safety but did not significantly change crime rates.

Mapp v. Ohio

Established that illegally obtained evidence generally cannot be used in state criminal trials through the exclusionary rule.

Exclusionary Rule

Illegally obtained evidence cannot generally be used in court.

Plain View

Evidence that officers can clearly see may be seized when legally present.

Protective Sweep

Limited search for people who could harm officers, not a search for additional evidence.

Terry v. Ohio

Allows brief stops and protective frisks when officers have reasonable suspicion.

Reasonable Suspicion

Specific circumstances that reasonably suggest a person may be involved in criminal activity.

Carroll v. United States

Established the vehicle exception, allowing a warrantless vehicle search when police have probable cause.

Probable Cause

Facts and circumstances that provide a reasonable basis to believe a crime or evidence is present.

Tennessee v. Garner

Deadly force against a fleeing suspect requires necessity to prevent escape and reasonable belief the suspect poses a significant threat.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Police Administration

Management of police budgets, personnel, policies, equipment, and operations.

Operations

Subsystem that directly performs police work, including patrol, investigations, traffic, and special operations.

Administration

Subsystem that manages and supports the agency through HR, budgeting, legal services, and internal affairs.

Auxiliary Services

Supports police operations through evidence, crime labs, dispatch, facilities, and equipment.

Internal Affairs

Investigates allegations of officer misconduct.

Property & Evidence

Stores evidence and maintains the chain of custody.

Chain of Custody

Documentation showing how evidence was collected, handled, stored, and transferred.

Communications/Dispatch

Receives emergency calls and sends officers to incidents.

Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force

Officers from multiple agencies working together on shared investigations or problems.

Authority

Power to make decisions, perform tasks, and command subordinates.

Responsibility

Duties and tasks assigned according to an employee’s position or rank.

Accountability

Ensures authority is properly used and policies are followed.

Delegation

Giving authority or tasks to others while ultimate responsibility remains with the person in charge.

Chain of Command

Formal line of authority and communication from lower to higher levels.

Unity of Command

Each employee should normally report to one direct supervisor.

Span of Control

Number of subordinates a supervisor can effectively manage.

Policies

Broad rules or guidelines that govern officer behavior and agency operations.

Procedures

Specific instructions explaining how duties should be performed.

Duty to Act

Officer’s obligation to perform required duties when circumstances call for action.

Off-Duty Conduct

Officers are expected to maintain professional behavior even when not working.

Originated Policy

Policy created within the agency, usually by leadership.

Implied Policy

Unwritten expectations communicated through actions or practices.

External Policy

Policy influenced or required by outside organizations such as courts or government agencies.

Vehicle Pursuit Policy

Rules determining when officers may pursue vehicles because of safety and liability concerns.

Progressive Discipline

Increasing disciplinary consequences for repeated or serious violations.

Police Subculture

Shared attitudes, values, and behaviors that develop among police officers and within agencies.

Gratuities

Free or discounted goods/services given to officers that may create conflicts of interest or perceived favoritism.

Police Management

Process of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling a police agency.

Open System

Organization affected by both internal operations and the outside community/environment.

Strategic Plan

Long-term plan establishing agency goals and priorities.

Operational Plan

Plan for handling a specific event or situation.

Contingency Plan

Plan designed to prepare for major emergencies or unexpected events.

Recruitment

Process of attracting and selecting qualified police applicants.

Background Investigation

Examination of an applicant’s history, character, employment, finances, and relationships.

Staffing

Ensuring the agency has enough qualified personnel to perform its functions.

Directing

Management process of giving orders and guiding employees.

Controlling

Ensuring employees follow policies, procedures, and organizational expectations.

First-Line Supervisor

Usually a sergeant who supervises officers and handles day-to-day operations.

Police Chief/Sheriff

Highest-ranking agency leader responsible for overall management, policy, personnel, and budget.

Manning Table

Tool used to determine the number of officers needed based on staffing requirements.

Police Professionalism

Emphasis on training, education, ethical behavior, accountability, technology, and sound judgment.

Use-of-Force Continuum

Framework for using an appropriate and justifiable level of force based on the situation.

Leadership

Ability to direct, supervise, and influence employees toward organizational goals.

Constitutional Rights

Legal protections that limit government and police authority.

Essential Question

How should criminal justice administrators balance public safety, effective law enforcement, and constitutional rights?