Policing in America

Executive Branch

executes the law

legislative branch

makes the law

judicial branch

decides how the law works

Pennsylvania State Police (PSP)

originally started from preventing strikes

watchman

cruise around making sure nothing happens

legalistic

go out and enforce all laws all the time

service

provides services to residents

justification for used force

defending yourself or others

overcome resistence to arrest

protection of property(non-law enforcement)

what type of government does the U.S. have

constitutional republic

department of justice (DoJ)

FBI: terrorism, transnational crime, civil rights violation, cybercrime

DEA: drug enforcement

US Marshalls: court security and process service, fugitive apprehension

BATFE: alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives

Core Criminal Justice Competencies

a body of knowledge of government function, law, criminal procedure, and practice that can be applied to situations that arise in the field

due process of law

fair treatment through the function of the judicial system

bail

temporary release of a accused person awaiting trial (money or conditions)

pre-trial detention

detention of accused person when bail cannot be made

arrestee

a person who has been arrested but not yet arrainged

defendant

an individual sued or accused in the court of law

convict (noun)

a person found guilty of criminal offenses

convict (verb)

to declare someone to be guilty (jury or judge trial)

case law

law established by the outcome of former cases by courts of record

statutory law

laws created by legislature

discretion

the freedom to decide what should be done in particular situations

deadly force

force which may cause death or serious bodily injury

physical force

all other force

limitations on jusitfication

force is never justified to resist arrest

reasonable suspicion

police officers should be allowed to stop & briefly detain a person, based on prior experience on individuals engaged in criminal activity (stop and frisk)

probable cause

exists when a officer has knowledge of such facts would lead a reasonable person to believe a particular individual is or had commited a crime

1st amendment

freedom of speech, religion, the press, and assembly

2nd amendment

right to bare arms

4th amendment

searches & seizures, including use of force

5th amendment

due process, self-incrimination, double jeopardy, grand jury

6th amendment

speedy trial in the jurisdiction, impartial jury, subpoena, confront witnesses

8th amendment

no excessive bail or cruel & unusual punishment

10th amendment

powers not delegated to the U.S. by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people