Criminal Justice Authority Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Criminal Justice Authority Evaluation - Essay Example Discretionary authority refers to the power to act in accordance with one judgment or discretion. Before a judge or any other person in power in the criminal justice, he or she ought to apply values and principles to facts. Exercise of discretion occurs in different ways, depending on each criminal justice system. Discretionary authority is practiced and exercised in various fields of criminal justice. For instance, discretion occurs when reporting crimes. Some criminal justice systems do not respond to little crimes, like the theft of an item that is of little or no value. The victim of such a minor crime has the discretion to report or not report such a crime to the authority. If there was no witness, when such a crime was committed, then, it would be futile reporting such a crime; hence, most of such crimes go unreported. Police use discretion, in response to reported crimes or cases. Police officers have some discretion, even though they are required to act according to the law a nd professional ethics. For instance, in youth justice such police officers have the authority to hold a youth justice conference, proceed by administering a caution, or proceed by charge in the Children’s Court. Discretion is again practiced in investigation, arrest and charge; police officers may either investigate or fail to investigate an officially reported crime. For example, some criminal justice systems do not require investigation of fraud allegations, unless such frauds are immensely high.... Police officers have some discretion, even though they are required to act according to the law and professional ethics. For instance, in youth justice such police officers have the authority to hold a youth justice conference, proceed by administering a caution, or proceed by charge in the Children’s Court. Discretion is again practiced in investigation, arrest and charge; police officers may either investigate or fail to investigate an officially reported crime. For example, some criminal justice systems do not require investigation of fraud (below $10, 000) allegations, unless such frauds are immensely high (Raines, 2011). However, not all people, in such criminal justice systems, agree to the lack of investigation of such fraud, even though police officers have the discretion to act in such a manner. This is a clear indication of controversial exercise of discretion by some criminal justice systems. When an investigation is carried out, police officers have the power to de cide where such an investigation should be carried out, and the people to be contacted. Police officers have the obligation to make the right decision in approaching a suspect. They may decide to arrest or issue a Court Attendance Notice to such a suspect. Such decision affects both the offender and the community at large; the community may be exposed to further offending, and the offender’s liberty may be put at a risk. Discretionary considerations are exercised when police officers seek advice from prosecutor to establish criminal charges. The community exercise its discretion since some people, in the community, act as witness during a court proceeding. The offender exercise judgment at some stages, during the case proceeding; for instance, he or she may apply for bail.