Bureaucracy
A hierarchically structured administrative organization that carries out specific functions
Delegation of Authority
A principle of command in which personnel take orders from and are responsible to those in positions of power directly above them
Elements of Discretion
- Nature of criminal act
- Relationship between victim and offender
- Attitude of wrongdoer
- Department policy- limiting discretion
Ballistics
The study of firearms, including the firing of the weapon and the flight of the bullet
Incident-Driven Policing
A reactive approach to policing that emphasizes a speedy response to calls for service
Computer-Aided Dispatch
A method of dispatching police patrol unit to the sites of 911 emergencies with the assistance of computer program
Broken Window Policy
By cracking down on quality-of-life crimes, LE convinces both criminal and law-abiding citizens that lawlessness will no longer be tolerated in a particular area
Community Policing
A policing philosophy that emphasizes community support for and cooperation with the police in preventing crime
Problem-Oriented Policing
A policing philosophy that requires police to identify potential criminal activity and develop strategies to prevent or respond to that activity
Socialization
The process through which a police officer is taught the value and expected behavior of the police subculture
Blue Curtain
A metaphorical term used to refer to the value placed on secrecy and the general mistrust of the outside world shared by many police officers
Noble Cause Corruption
Knowing misconduct by a police officer with the goal of attaining what the officer believes is a “just” result
Justification
Officers know human behavior
Officers should know how to protect themselves
