Module 3: American Law Enforcement
What Do You Think?
- Can community policing be saved in today’s society?
- What steps can be taken to get community policing back on track?
As of 2015, research found that there was 1 police officer for every 400 residents. That number is alarming!
- Why do we have so few officers in today’s society?
- Are the duties not worth the risk?
- What has caused people to fear becoming a police officer?
- Can the private security sector be more “challenging” and potentially dangerous than public law enforcement?
- Why or why not?
- Can you think of reasons as to why private security officers may not be taken “as seriously” as actual law enforcement?
- Do you believe this can cause a burden to the officer?
- Guilt? PTSD? etc.
- What issues arise with the nature of this work?
- Describe the concept of decentralized policing.
- How does jurisdiction limit policing powers?
- What are the three political jurisdictions by which government exercises law enforcement authority?
- Describe the roles of federal law enforcement agencies and describe some of the major federal law enforcement agencies.
Federal law enforcement agencies are under the administrative control of the executive branch of the federal government. There are three distinctively different types of federal agencies: military police, Native American tribal police, and civilian police. All four branches of the military (Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force) have their own strategy for providing police services. Another federal authority is found in Native American reservations, which establish their own tribal police to provide services. Finally, there are approximately 50 federal civilian law enforcement agencies. One such federal agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), operates the largest training academy in the United States for law enforcement agencies. In addition, the FBI maintains the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), the nation’s largest database of computerized criminal information on wanted felons, criminal history, and stolen items such as automobiles and guns.
Which branch of the federal government oversees federal law enforcement agencies?
- Name a federal law enforcement agency and describe its roles and duties.
- Describe the jurisdiction of a tribal police department.
- Discuss the new priorities of today’s FBI.
- Explain what is meant by the term narcoterrorism.