Law Enforcement Exam 2

Racial Profiling

a term referring to the discriminatory practice by police of targeting individuals for arrest, questioning, searching, and so on purely on the basis of his or her race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin

Community policing

a style of policing in which police patrol neighborhoods on foot and try to help their residents solve community problems

Smart policing

emphasizes the use of data and analytics as well as improved crime analysis, performance, measurement, and evaluation research

Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED)

a way to use the environment in order to reduce the fear and incidence of crime and improve the quality of life

Repeat victimization

the occurrence of a particular crime towards the same people and places

Problem-analysis triangle

a tool that helps officers visualize a problem and understand the relationship between an offender, a location, and a victim

Scanning, analysis, response, assessment (SARA)

a four stage problem solving process that includes identifying and solving problems, forming tailor-made strategies, and evaluating overall effectiveness

Police-community relations

the relationship between local police and the communities they protect and serve

Problem-oriented policing

a strategy wherein police analyze crime and disorder and develop tailor-made responses to it 

Polygraph examiner

one with specialized training and education for use of a polygraph as well as the use of carefully constructed questioning techniques

Bertillon system

an early criminal identification/classification system based on the idea that certain aspects of the human body, such as skeletal size, ear shape, and eye color, remain the same after a person has reached full physical maturity. It used a combination of photographs with standardized physical measurements

Medical examiner

one who is trained in medicine and works for a unit of government to perform autopsies of persons who have died from unnatural causes, and determine cause of death

Interviewing

police questioning of someone in order to obtain personal information, different from an interrogation, which focuses on a particular crime

Investigative stages

preliminary investigation, continuing investigation, reconstruction of the crime, and focus of the investigation

Locard’s exchange principle

a theory that when any person comes into contact with an object or other person, a cross transfer of evidence will occur

Combined DNA Index Systems (CODIS)

a database of DNA profiles obtained from subjects convicted of serious felonies. Investigators can search and compare evidence from their cases against the system’s extensive national file

Modus operandi

method of operation

Crime Scene

the physical area in which a crime is thought to have occurred and in which evidence of the crime is thought to reside

Psycholinguistics

provides an understanding of those who use criminal coercion and strategies for dealing with threats

Detective

An officer specifically assigned to investigative duties

Criminalistics

the science of crime detection, referring to the examination of physical evidence of a crime such as footprints, weapons, and bloodstains

Dactylography

the process of identifying fingerprints

Anthropometry

an early study of body measurements for personal identification of the human body, specifically to characterize persons arrested for crimes

Polygraph examination

a controversial process of monitoring changes in skin resistance, blood pressure, pulse rate, and breathing that determine whether a person is lying during questioning 

Forensic science

the part of science used to answer legal questions by examining, evaluating, and explaining physical evidence

Criminal profiling

an investigative tool used by investigators to identify likely suspects based on known patterns, which can predict future offenses and/or victims

Interrogation

the information gathering activity of police officers that involves the direct questioning of suspects

Post conviction testing

testing the DNA of inmates to see if there is any evidence from which DNA can be extracted that coil potentially prove their innocence

Cold cases

unsolved crimes that can be later re examined in search for new information, witness testimony, and/or evidence

Corpus delicti

the “body of the crime,” it is the foundation of the offense - not only a possible corpse, but any form of evidence that may be used to prove that a crime occurred

Grievance

a formal complaint that covers a range of issues

Contract services

the hiring of outside firms or individuals by the individual or company to provide security services for a fee

Collective bargaining

the formal recognition of employee organizations and their right to negotiate with management regarding workplace issues

Job action

an activity in which employees engage to express their dissatisfaction with a particular person, event, or condition or to attempt to influence the outcome of some matter pending before decision makers

Proprietary services

in-house security services, directly hired and controlled by the company or organization

Private police

private officials who consider security threats, monitor alarms, prevent and detect fraud, conduct investigations, patrol private property, perform other related tasks

Stress

a force that is external in nature that causes strain upon the body, both physical and emotional 

Peace officer bill of rights

the legislation that confers on police employees a property interest in their position and mandates due process rights for peace officers who are subject of internal investigations that could lead to disciplinary action

Employee assistance program (EAP)

a program help officers cope with alcohol and substance abuse, psychological problems, or other issues caused by or affecting their work

Millennials

individuals born roughly between 1982 and 2000

Labor relations

the employment rights and the related concepts of unionization and collective bargaining

Higher education

education beyond the secondary level; often debated as to its value for police officers

Fair labor standards act (FLSA)

an act providing minimum pay and overtime provisions for public and private sector employees and contains special provisions for police officers

Homeostasis

how the body strives to maintain its normal state, relatively free from stress

Impasse

when parties bargaining in good faith are not able to resolve their differences by themselves