Police Structure 2

Question 1

excited delirium

Answer 1

bogus term coined by police to justify unwarranted actions or violence
wants to sound more fancy or scientific
NOT included in the DSM-5

Question 2

non-lethal weaponss

Answer 2

tasers have become common in the RCMP
Kershaw argues they’ve saved over 4,000 lives in North America
2002: British government concluded that tasers are not safe.

Question 3

social contract vs. radical perspectives on policing

Answer 3

social contract: importance of neutrality in policing society (protection and enforcing the law)
radical: acting on the part of the ruling class (instrument of repression in sosciety)

Question 4

discretion (and 3 factors)

Answer 4

involves INDEPENDENT JUDGEMENT of officers
necessary part of the job as it is impossible to create a set of rules/policy for every possible scenario
3 factors: SERIOUSNESS/TYPE OF CRIME, ATTITUDE OF CITIZEN, DEPARTMENTAL POLICY SPECIFICATIONS

Question 5

situational variables

Answer 5

1. seriousness of crime
2. strength of evidence
3. preference of victim
4. relationship between suspect and victim
5. demeanour of suspect

Question 6

community variables (4)

Answer 6

1. minorities or class
2. officer’s perception of danger
3. citizen’s attitude towards police
4. community legal culture

Question 7

extralegal factors

Answer 7

1. race, class, gender, etc.
   BIENVENUE/LATIF: indigenous men are more likely to be convicted or arrested on ALL offences except for drug and traffic

Question 8

police subculture: pros and cons

Answer 8

pros: SENSE OF COLLECTIVENESS, CONTROL, INFORMAL TEACHING
cons: RESISTANCE TO CHANGE, SUPPORT FOR RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, MISUSE OF AUTHORITY, RESISTANCE TO ACCOUNTABILITY

Question 9

six police subculture values ***

Answer 9

1. police are the only real crime fighters
2. no one else understands the real nature of police
3. loyalty to colleagues is paramount
4. rules need to be bent
5. public is unreasonable and unsupportive
6. detective work is better than patrol work

Question 10

police personality and Neiderhoffer theory

Answer 10

possess a “unique” personality marked by cynicism, hostility, dogmatism, conservatism
can lead to poor relationships with communities, deviance, and frequent use of excessive force
Niederhoffer: new officers are LEAST cynical, then become cynical, then LESS CYNICAL towards retirement.

Question 11

deadly force

Answer 11

police were permitted to shoot a fleeting felon until 1995.
“as much force as necessary”… not as easy
control measures: REASONABLENESS STANDARD (hard to obtain convictions) and FORCE COOPERATION IN CASE OF DEATH
** most incidents are in Ontario and Quebec
** lack of community cohesion, organizational values of force, training