LawEnforcement.pdf

Law Enforcement
“Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind
of law enforcement it insists on.” – Robert Kennedy

The beginning of the criminal jus�ce system begins before the entrance (arrest) into the system – – it begins
with the commission or suspected commission of a crime or illegal ac�vity. Depending upon where the crime or
suspected commission of crime took place, will determine which agency is called. Then again, if the crime is
serious, then it may require the a�en�on of federal law enforcement – – and even then, it varies as to who is
responsible for inves�ga�ng the ac�on and determining whether a crime was commi�ed.

As discussed in a previous lesson, the magnitude of the crime and those affected do play a role in society’s refer
of whether law enforcement was right or wrong in their handling of the issue. For example, in the opening
scene where you are arrested and placed into custody, if this was done because you were burning leaves,
society (including you) would likely look at the ac�ons of law enforcement as going a bit too far. However, if you
were found trying to burn your neighbor’s garage, then yes, the ac�ons of law enforcement would be
appropriate.

Another factor in society is history. Yes, history plays a heavy role in society’s response. If there have been
racially mo�vated incidents in the past, then any ac�on, legal or not, will likely be scru�nized by society with
the decision based upon how law enforcement handled it in the past and how they handle it in the present.

In the personal scenario, if your neighbor’s house had burned down a few years ago causing damage to
surrounding homes as well, then your ac�ons of burning leaves illegally may cause a bit more concern than if it
had never happened. Similarly, if you had a history of not ge�ng along with your neighbor and their garage
suddenly caught on fire, and you were referred to walking out of the garage minutes before the fire, then
history would indicate you would be a person of interest concerning law enforcement – as well as your
neighbor and members of society who were aware of the situa�on between you and your neighbor.