The incidence of September 11 2001 has remarkably transformed the police force in the U.S. The federal administration has instituted diverse national security measures (Weisburd, 2009). An analysis of the police force indicates notable disparities. These are evident between the past and the present police force. Various specialized police units already exist. Terrorism and related attacks have attracted increased attention from various stakeholders. Notably, most police officers and security personnel lacked the specialized training previously. For instance, they lacked adequate knowledge on how to counter-terrorism. There is an imminent increase in the budgetary allocation for the police department.
The incidence has initiated the development of more sophisticated security gadgets (Weisburd, 2009). There is an increase in the level of monitoring of international travels and boundaries by the police force. The police force presently applies contemporary gadgets and technology to maintain security. There is a high level of awareness of the major global threat landscape by the present police force (Dempsey & Forst, 2012). Generally, they are more aware of issues regarding cyber security and technological breach. There is an advanced level in the monitoring of information security and communications networks by the police. Consequently, there is an establishment of intelligence units within the police force. These units focus on the investigation of terrorist attacks and related crimes.
The police officers are more concerned in providing security to the citizens (Weisburd, 2009). The police officers have advanced their abilities to share intelligent information. Consequently, they can analyze any information on how to prevent terrorism. There is an evident increase in the recruitment of law enforcers. Their managers undergo potential challenges and have to exercise rational decision-making. Moreover, the communication between the local agencies and the state law enforcers has improved. Through awareness, police officers are able to detect criminal behaviors (Weisburd, 2009). Evidently, the law keepers have developed powerful collaboration with the entire U.S community. Community policing is more eminent. There is an urgent need for everyone to engage in the protection of the US. The partnership between the police and the community prevents further attacks by the terrorists.
Disagreements in the Process of Preventing Terrorism
Notably, there exist potential disagreements in the prevention of terrorism. The issues of racism and individual privacy are important. There are particular races that feel discriminated by some of the antiterrorism initiatives (Weisburd, 2009). The capacity of the police forces to access private information pertinenting to individuals or organizations remains debatable. The use of the internet in antiterrorism exposes private and confidential information. The ransacking of personal luggage, handbags, and other personal possessions while entering buildings or boarding planes has created potential debates. There are reiterations that these actions interfere with personal liberty. However, the state security agencies uphold the significance of these processes in ensuring state security.
Role of Social Stigma on Police Ethics
Social stigma is important in law enforcement. The social stigma associated with a particular community may have major consequences. Notably, the perceptions and attitudes of the public may influence and affect the law enforcement process (Dempsey & Forst, 2012). For instance, the Islamic religion has faced greatest risk of social stigma. Principally, this is observable in the developed countries. The Muslim community is widely scrutinized unfairly within some countries by security agencies. Most terrorists belong to this religion in most parts of the world. The Asians in the US bear a negative image. Particularly, this was observable after the September 11 2001 attacks in United States.
Evidently, the law enforcement agencies may at times be discriminative. This is because of their perceptions towards a group of people. This is contrary to the law, which should provide fair and equal judgment among all members of the society. These ethical issues require attention from law enforcers (Caldero & Crank, 2011). Observably, the issues influence the way the practice of justice. As law enforcers, the police officers are not supposed to depict prejudice in making legal conclusions. Most of them base their actions on negative beliefs.
Ethical Forces behind Police Corruption
Most police officers engage in serious cases of corruption. There are different types of corruption within the police force. The developing states record high levels of police corruption. The police engage in operations that are not consistent with their professional ethics and norms (Caldero & Crank, 2011). They tend to misuse their power for personal gains. The police lower their professional integrity by participating in corruption. There is an evident application of lies and fallacies during investigations and interrogations by the police officers. These are not ethically correct.
Public corruption within criminal justice includes reception of free services such as meals or even discounts. However, most police officers do not consider this as a form of misconduct. They offer favor in future in order to fulfill the gratuity (Pollock, 2012). Most of these officers exploit other businesspersons and get money. This comes into play when the police have the power to inspect businesses. They receive kickbacks irrespective of the criminal conditions that they come across. The law enforcers may also decide to apply excessive force and disrespect. This is notable in many cases when they handle the public. Brutality is a feature portrayed by most police officers (Caldero & Crank, 2011). They apply physical force on most of the suspects who resist arrest.
Certain reports indicate that some officers coerce women into sexual practices. Some even rape innocent crime victims. Some take the advantage to strip opposite sexes in the pretext of making searches. This is sexual harassment. Police officers are also associated with perjury. They exclude important information during the investigation procedures. Apart from this, they use false information to prosecute innocent suspects. These trends are observable within most legal courts (Pollock, 2012). The training curriculum for the police officers contains the standard witness and evidence justification protocols. However, they do not follow these protocols comprehensively. Subsequently they misuse these powers to express their interests.
Individual Conscience and Police Assignments
There are different perspectives about the concept of conscience. Most police assignments involve risky undertakings. There are potential risks to both the individual police officers and the public. Generally, conscience refers to a judgment, which is intellectually used (Dempsey & Forst, 2012). It is applicable in determining the difference between basic facts. Explicitly, it is applicable in noting the disparities between the wrong and the right. It has both the morals and ethics that guide the actions and thoughts of a person. The police officers should respect every human right. This is the fundamental basis of their training. An observation of the basic human rights enables the police officers to promote their standards of performance.
The officers become transparent professionals in handling matters that concern law and order. This enables them to practice effective measures in crime prevention. Application of positive and constructive conscience helps the police to maintain order and promote peace within the general society. Ideally, this forms the basic role of every disciplined force (Chambliss, 2011). The principle also remains applicable within other relevant legal agencies. The constructive individual conscience is only attainable with the practice and compliance with the basic ethical and moral standards. It is critical to establish fundamental professional ethics. Consequently, comprehensive communication of these principles remains important within the entire police force.
Positive conscience enables the police officers to set up constructive collaborations and relationships with the community. This is important in curbing criminal activities within all the relevant sectors. The practice develops the role model effect within the society (Pollock, 2012). Most studies indicate that citizens are more ready to be law abiders when protected by an efficient police force. The training process must ensure that all the police officers are knowledgeable on basic human rights and entitlements. Multicultural orientation is important in the development of a positive individual conscience within the police force. They must be at positions to perform in different societies. This is effective when interaction with different groups is eminent. Interaction and diverse exposures enhances the competency of police officers to complete vital security assignments. Individual intelligence is vital for decision making within the police force (Chambliss, 2011). Conscience plays a significant role in enhancing the level of individual intelligence. Robust measures are necessary in the transformation of any police force. The police force is a critical law enforcement arm.
References
Caldero, M. A. & Crank, J. P. (2011). Police ethics: The corruption of noble cause. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Chambliss, W. J. (2011). Key issues in crime and punishment. Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE.
Dempsey, J. S. & Forst, L. S. (2012). An introduction to policing. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.
Pollock, J. M. (2012). Ethical dilemmas and decisions in criminal justice. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Weisburd, D. (2009). To protect and to serve: Policing in an age of terrorism. Dordrecht: Springer.