Question

When Officer Friel discovered Mark smoking marijuana outside the school, he took him home and turned him over to his parents for counseling and treatment as they felt appropriate. Healso warned Mark the next time would result in a ride to juvenile hall. Which statement best describes Officer Friel’s actions?
A) Officer Friel is violating police ethics.
B) Officer Friel is guilty of breaking the law.
C) Officer Friel is employing police discretion.
D) Officer Friel is using reverse psychology on Mark.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Officer Friel is employing police discretion.

Explanation:

This particular form of approach by the above policeman in our scenario above is simply explaining about the study of police discretion from this decision making perspective. It is concerned with several forms of authority: stops, frisks and searches, arrests, tickets, and the use of physical force. Police authority is infrequently invoked, as a proportion of all police citizen contacts. Officers consider their authority as a resource in handling such situations, and often they are able to handle situations without resorting to the use of formal authority.