Criminology: Law Enforcement in the USA Essay

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Law enforcement may be defined as the structure in which the community members act in a well thought-out behavior to endorse observance to the law by investigating and grueling persons who infringe the regulations and norms of that society. Though concerned with handling crimes and punishment, there are attempts to dispirit people from committing non-criminal actions of lesser consequences. Law enforcement agencies like the police are responsible for the conduct for the general welfare of the public. Community investment in terms of human resources is of paramount importance. The different law enforcing agencies at the local, state, federal, tribal, military and the FBI levels have their own sets of protocols to follow while discharging their duties, functions and responsibilities. These police agencies operate within their specified boundaries. In certain cases, there could be an overlap like the FBI may operate throughout the USA to complete its assignments. The differences between these agencies lie in human resources, budgets, and jurisdiction. The USA is committed to make its territory safe from any type of aggression. Department of Justice is accountable for the law enforcement and supervision of justice in the country (Department of Justice, 2012). Also, Department of Homeland Security was established to control outside threats to the nation, and in preparedness to September 11, 2001 type attacks and bioterrorism, etc (Homeland Security, 2012). The aim of this essay is to outline the historical development of law enforcing agencies and their jurisdiction with respect to municipal, state, and federal levels.

Local Law Enforcement

These are more prevalent and are committed to have a safe society. They are responsible for patrolling the areas, emergency community services, traffic records, maintenance of criminal and no-criminal records, providing public information, alcohol and drug abuse control, and in total, maintaining the internal affairs at the local municipal level. The rural areas, county and the city policing have their own parameters, and obviously they differ in pay, benefits and materials or equipments to tackle social emergencies and crimes. The larger departments may have smaller specialized units where population is larger, and the social complexity is increased. As far as the patrolling forces are concerned, this job may give a break to the local youths to understand their society better and to move to a better position, later on.

The sheriff’s department also does the same thing as the local police, but the jurisdiction gets larger. They are responsible for conduct of jails, court activities, etc. These may collaborate with local agencies for solving cases. Thus they have a larger geography to serve and may not fall under a civil services system. The economic recession became a limiting factor for local police as it forced them to merge with the other departments or a shut down (USA Today, 2009).

State Law Enforcement

All USA states have their own state police departments to check the activities within their state, at the highways, and the borders. They are usually full-service agencies and may have specialized units according to the needs. Their responsibilities include drug and human trafficking, traffic crashes, etc. across the borders and at the highway speedways. They may have commercial vehicle enforcement laws too. As the employee is assigned the task anywhere in the state, it may result into frequent transfers for the depending families.

Specialized Law Enforcement

They are not under the state and include airport and campus police departments, to operate in specific circumstances. With lesser geography and jurisdiction, their efficiency expected is higher and perks and benefits may vary greatly too as per conditions.

In 2004, federal agencies employed 105,000 people in all the states. The executive branches included departments of agriculture, defense, commerce, army, navy, air force, education, energy, health, homeland security, housing and urban development, justice, labor, veteran affairs, transportation, treasury; these work in tandem with the legislative and judicial departments. These agencies work under the United States Code. Working for a federal agency definitely means that the employee would have better perks and benefits than at local or at state levels, also the recruiting may be a bit tougher too, given the expanse of tasks (The New York Times, 2012).

Indian Tribal Law Enforcement

Tribal sovereignty in the USA gives the indigenous powers to the Indian aboriginal tribes to govern themselves. So these regulations are in addition to local and state law enforcements. Early history involves the Marshall Trilogy (1823-1832), enforcement of tribal courts (1883), and Dawes act (1887), Indian Reorganization act (1934) and Public Law 280 (1953) (Tribal sovereignty in the United States, 2011).

With the spread of terrorism and many faces of it including the threat of usage of biological and chemical systems, the USA law enforcement agencies face a tough challenge to maintain the state safe, secure and highly integral to conformity within laws mentioned in the constitution. The priorities, resources, human needs may need a complete boost to alienate the emergence of any threat to the state. This again calls for a sustainable collaboration between the community, the state and the Law enforcement agencies for a better, safe and secure social living in the territories of the USA.

References

Department of Justice. (2012). Resources. Web.

Homeland Security. (2012). Counterterrorism. Web.

The New York Times. (2012). Articles about the Homeland Security Department. Web.

Tribal sovereignty in the United States. (2011). In Wikipedia. Web.

USA Today. (2009). Economy limiting services of local police. Web.

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