Police Department Roles and Functions
Running head: POLICE DEPARTMENT ROLES AND FUNCTIONS
Police Department Roles and Functions xxxxxx Axia College of University of Phoenix
CJA/214
xxxxx
Police Department Roles and Functions Law enforcement agencies range from local counties all the way up to state and federal levels. Communities are dependent of these agencies to conduct and perform many different roles and functions. All policing agencies perform the same basic duties and responsibilities, which are, maintain law and order, provide community assistance, and investigate crimes. There are agencies that function in a specific jurisdictions or provides a specialized function in a specific jurisdiction. All departments work together to protect citizens, prevent crime, and solve crimes within their community. * What are the principal roles and functions of police organizations and their role as it applies to the law? * Local law enforcement protects citizens and maintains law and order within their assigned jurisdiction. Local law enforcement patrols communities to deter crimes through their visual presence. Law enforcement officers investigate crimes, gather evidence, and make arrests of offenders (Gabor & Low, 1973). Local law enforcement can be broken down into two different agencies, city police and Sheriff Departments. City police are responsible for conducting their roles and functions within city limits or their assigned jurisdiction through their established departments. Department responsibilities can include specific patrolling to deter crime with a different department with specific responsibilities to investigate crimes. * Sheriff Departments are tasked with policing the whole county jurisdiction. The Sheriff Department conducts the same roles and function of local law enforcement departments. Sheriff Departments have what are called deputies that patrol county jurisdictions, investigators, and a coroner. Sheriff Departments are also responsible for operating
Police Department Roles and Functions xxxxxx Axia College of University of Phoenix
CJA/214
xxxxx
Police Department Roles and Functions Law enforcement agencies range from local counties all the way up to state and federal levels. Communities are dependent of these agencies to conduct and perform many different roles and functions. All policing agencies perform the same basic duties and responsibilities, which are, maintain law and order, provide community assistance, and investigate crimes. There are agencies that function in a specific jurisdictions or provides a specialized function in a specific jurisdiction. All departments work together to protect citizens, prevent crime, and solve crimes within their community. * What are the principal roles and functions of police organizations and their role as it applies to the law? * Local law enforcement protects citizens and maintains law and order within their assigned jurisdiction. Local law enforcement patrols communities to deter crimes through their visual presence. Law enforcement officers investigate crimes, gather evidence, and make arrests of offenders (Gabor & Low, 1973). Local law enforcement can be broken down into two different agencies, city police and Sheriff Departments. City police are responsible for conducting their roles and functions within city limits or their assigned jurisdiction through their established departments. Department responsibilities can include specific patrolling to deter crime with a different department with specific responsibilities to investigate crimes. * Sheriff Departments are tasked with policing the whole county jurisdiction. The Sheriff Department conducts the same roles and function of local law enforcement departments. Sheriff Departments have what are called deputies that patrol county jurisdictions, investigators, and a coroner. Sheriff Departments are also responsible for operating
References: Grant, H. B. & Terry, K. J. (2012). Law Enforcement in the 21st Century (3rd Edition) Pearson Education Scott, M. S. (2009). Progress in American Policing? Reviewing the National Reviews. Law & Social Inquiry, 34(1), 169-185. doi:10.1111/j.1747-4469.2009.01142.x Gabor, I. R., & Low, C. (1973). THE POLICE ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY. Criminology, 10(4), 383-414. Department of Justice. (2012). Department of Justice Agencies. Retrieved December 17, 2012 from http://www.justice.gov/agencies/index-list.html