Discuss some of the factors that might influence an individual officer’s discretion in making decisions involving a criminal suspect.

Answer:

First, the officer’s own family background plays a significant part in discretionary decisions. The beliefs and values an officer learned from his or her family will influence how that officer treats other people. For example, a police officer who places a high value on the nuclear family might be more sensitive to the importance of resolving an incident involving spousal abuse. A second factor that weighs in an officer’s decision-making process is personal characteristics of the suspect. The suspect’s appearance, speech, and demeanor can affect how he or she will be treated by a police officer. For example, a poorly dressed and disrespectful suspect might be more likely to receive a speeding ticket. A final factor to consider is the influence that the police department’s policies have in shaping discretion. If a department has a strict written policy requiring that an arrest must be made for a particular offense, the officer will be less likely to give a warning or release a suspect. Whether it is the officer’s own socialization, the suspect’s personality, or department policies, the exercise of choice by police officers is influenced by a variety of factors in addition to the actual violation of law being investigated.