Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper in which you evaluate liability, accountability, and economic impact in concert with discretionary authority exercised by personnel in the criminal justice system. Be sure to answer the following question in your paper:
- What role does a civilian oversight committee have in ensuring authoritative powers are not abused as it applies to policies, procedures, liability, economic factors, and discretion?
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
Answer preview
The United States has procedural and substantive laws governing close to every aspect of the country’s criminal justice system. Despite this, entry into this system is heavily determined by the exercise of informal discretionary authority by public officials at various levels within the criminal justice system (Gelsthorpe & Padfield, 2012). When public officials make discretionary decisions, they often develop policies informed by such decisions. These policies are not subjected to the traditional channels for review provided in the country’s legal system and hidden from the general public. Such a situation then increases the risk of abuse within the criminal justice system, especially when these policies guide the exercise of discretionary authority (Gelsthorpe & Padfield, 2012). As such, this paper will begin by providing a brief overview of what discretionary authority is and why its existence is necessary. The paper will then proceed to assess liability, accountability, and economic impact associated with the exercise of discretionary authority by personnel in the criminal justice system. The last section will look at civilian oversight committees’ role in ensuring authoritative powers are not abused. Civilian oversight committees can play a vital role in ensuring authoritative and discretionary powers are not abused by holding decision-makers accountable for their actions and decisions.
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