Policing in American Society

Policing in American Society Kathleen Kloos CJA 214 November 8, 2011 Douglas Edwards Policing in American Society The relationship between the U. S. government and all policing organizations throughout the U. S. is necessary because policing organizations cannot function without government support. Government provides support in the form of training, civilian staff, funding, corrections, and judicial support (Grant, 2008). Administrative support from the U. S. overnment can be seen by looking at the Office of the Coroner, which has the responsibility to investigate violent or suspicious deaths. This office determines cause of death and provides the proof of a homicide, or crime, to the law enforcement agency to pursue criminal charges. U. D. government changed their structure in regards to law enforcement and investigation after the events of September 11, 2001. Many departments and agencies became restructured to answer to either the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Justice (Grant, 2008.

The Department of Homeland Security oversees: Customs and Border Protection Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) U. S. Coast Guard U. S. Secret Service The Department of Justice is in charge of: Drug Enforcement Administration Federal Bureau of Investigation Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives U. S. Marshals Service Federal Bureau of Prisons The relationship between the U. S. government and policing agencies can be described as co-dependent.

Neither can exist without the other. Decisions handed down by the U. S. Supreme court dictate future police procedures. Cases such as Mapp v. Ohio, Miranda v. Arizona, and Fuhrman v. Georgia have changed the way police agencies investigate and charge offenders who eventually end up in prison. Police are no longer able to question a suspect without first advising the suspect of their Miranda rights (Miranda v. Arizona). Illegal search and seizure is no longer admissible in court (Mapp v. Ohio).

Cruel and unusual punishment is no longer tolerated (Fuhrman v. Georgia) (AllGov, 2011). The criminal justice system exists by making each branch dependent upon the other. Police agencies investigate the crime, take custody of the suspect, recommend charges to be filed against the offender, then hand the case off to the judicial branch to adjudicate. Once the case has been tried, if the defendant has been convicted, or pled guilty, the corrections department takes over and makes sure the defendant serves his/her sentence.

The impact of this relationship on American society insures that the citizens of this country feel safe. The impact shows criminals that society will not tolerate crimes against society. This relationship is a constant work in progress. Just like any relationship. References Gov, A. (2011). AllGov. Retrieved from http://www. allgov. com/Agency/Federal_Law_Enforcement_Training_Center Grant, H. B. , & Terry, K. J. (2008). Law Enforcement in the 21st Century (2nd ed. ). Unknown, AZ: Pearson Education.