NYPDs Stop & Frisk Practices - Essay Example

NYPD’S STOP AND FRISK POLICY The NYPD’s stop and frisk search refers to a police procedure where an officer runs his hands lightly over an individual suspected of carrying or concealing a weapon. The officer runs his or her hands lightly on the outer garment of the suspect. The NYPD gets to be the department that has obtained much scrutiny over this police procedure. The stop and frisk procedure has been quite controversial, but it gets to be quite useful in controlling and preventing crime (Lamberth, 2011).

According to the police, it is easier to find criminals through this procedure as the criminals may be about to or are in the process of committing a crime. Cracking down on criminals while they least expect it helps lower crime rates. Stop and frisk procedure help reduce the amount of contraband or weapons carried around by suspect criminals (Lamberth, 2011). Since suspect criminals know they risk getting frisked and searched, they choose not to carry any incriminating material on them.

This helps contribute to increase safety around the New York environs. A decrease in the number of weapons, drugs or other criminal contraband assists in curbing illegal undertakings in the New York state environ. The stop and frisk procedure also assists in maintaining officer safety. Officers are able to check on their safety by risking individuals whom they suspect to be dangerous. The stop and frisk procedure accord officers the right to frisk and search someone who pose a risk to their safety.

If an officer gets to stop and frisk an individual and finds a weapon, then the officer may have protected his or her life (Lamberth, 2011). If the weapon was to be used on the officer, it would put his or her life in danger.ReferenceLamberth, J. (2011). The Effectiveness of stop and frisk in the United States. Lamberth Consulting, 1-11.