Some New Data on Police Discretion and Training

Abstract

In 1977, a survey was conducted with 49 police officers in a 55-man department in New Jersey, in order to explore how they determine the real law of the land. A questionnaire was distributed, attempting to tap attitudes on training, and how and why a police officer uses discretion. The data seem to suggest that there are important differences between the opinions of patrolmen and those of senior officers.

Discretion is, of course, an indispensable part of police work. Police, however, are making decisions on a daily basis for which their training may be suspect. Much decision-making information seems to be communicated from veteran to rookie. This training is informal, unsystematic, and, in some cases, too brief

This study, suggests that much more emphasis — both in number of class hours and in realism — on discretion and discretion training should be taught at police academies. Too often policemen report that boring lectures focus on "book" knowledge, rather than "the real thing. " At the very least, new patrolmen should learn what will probably be a disparity, if not a gulf between formal training and "street" learning. This increased attention to discretion might lessen the shock and disillusionment of some rookies.