The Turnaround How Americas Top Cop Reversed the Crime Epidemic - Book Report/Review Example

The Turn Around In justice administration, police are commonly known to be law administrators in the essence of order maintenance (Bratton and Knobler, 2009). People believe that law implementation in the U.S. is historically and traditionally a local function. Many if not all of the cities, villages, and towns in the U.S. have their law enforcement agencies controlled by the police that are most often called a “police department (pg. 23).” While much of the police function involves service to the public, apprehending criminals and maintaining order, police every so often, is involved with the non-criminal and orderly member of the public. Police organizations are divided into different departments depending on the area of concern and region. For instance, in the police department there are the traffic police or patrols that are in charge of the highways and other roads ensuring proper road utilization (Bratton and Knobler, 2009). According to the book by Bratton and Knobler (2009), there are varied theories of policing. One among the theories is the broken windows theory. This is a criminological assumption of the norm establishment and signaling effect of urban disorder and vandalism on additional crime and anti-social behavior (Bratton and Knobler, 2009). The theory asserts that managing and monitoring urban settings in a well-ordered condition may stop further vandalism and escalation into more serious crime. It is the police's obligation to ensure, through this theory that crime and vandalism are properly contained in the society. The theory has gained varied and enormous support from policing departments including the New York police department (NYPD). Bratton and Knobler (2009) argue that, the relationships between law enforcement, prosecution and administration of justice are mutually dependent. The police are reliant upon the prosecutor to prosecute, and the prosecutor is reliant upon the police for evidence. On the other hand, the accused is dependent on the credibility of the prosecutor and the law enforcer for justice. While many prosecutors have their investigators, their main source of evidence is the police. If the police do not provide credible evidence, justice may not be served appropriately (Bratton and Knobler, 2009). When Mr. Bill Bratton was sworn in as the New York City's police commissioner of the New York police department in 1994, he made a bold promise to fight and win against crime in every borough. Though his statement seemed reckless, Bratton delivered. Twenty-seven months into his tenure, serious crime in New York decreased by 33% and murder rate were cut in half as compared to the previous year where homicide was at a high of 8%. Currently, the amount of crime in New York City stands at 13% as at June 21014, and the murder rate is at 4% that is on the path to hit a 50-year lower level. Bill Bratton would become an indication of the most respected and charismatic law enforcement official in USA. He became the kind of a police officer that every city, state, nation or region needed to keep the society in normal functioning condition (Bratton &and Knobler, 2009). According to Bratton and Knobler (2009), “the police are a fundamental part of the society in maintaining public law and order commonly known as “order maintenance and law enforcement.” with a function “to protect and serve” (Pg. 53). Police are also important for the prevention and detection of criminal activities in the state (Bratton and Knobler, 2009). Also, the police department is vital to protecting life, property, and liberty of people in the state. Therefore, the police occupy a very important role in the society by providing necessary checks against disorders and miss actions of human nature [Pg. 67]. The police, therefore, have a greater role in the administration of justice in the society (Bratton & Knobler, 2009). In the present world, crime has increased and become the order of the day with increased complexity of technology development especially in the criminal world (Bratton and Knobler, 2009). Thus, the role of the police has become more significant than ever. Essentially, in the absence of the police, there would be disorder and individuals would be living in an inhuman, nasty, unsociable and poor life (Bratton and Knobler, 2009). Since people would not have proper living conditions in their absence, therefore, the police are tasked with imposing criminal law in order to maintain order and examine crime. This offers the essential check against uncertainty of human nature. Without the police, people would never be sure of their security, and there would be rampant lack of orderliness in the streets. In essence, the police play a significant role in the administration of justice. In theory, a person’s liberty and safety are shielded by the Constitution of the United States, but in actual practice the laws and judicial decisions are imposed by the police (Bratton and Knobler, 2009) through correctional measures that they implement on the disorderly members of the society with the help of the justice department. The police are also tasked with responding to crimes and using the information provided by the victims to assist in solving the crimes. The police are viewed as the initial access point to functioning of the criminal justice system in the USA. In the book, Bratton and Knobler (2009) say that the most significant function of the police department and officers in the U.S. and New York as well is law enforcement. It is through law enforcement that criminals are arrested; evidence is collected, criminals are prosecuted, order is maintained, and the public and justice are served (Bratton and Knobler, 2009). The 1861 Police Act in America, the 1973 Code of Criminal Procedures of New York, and other relevant Acts describe the roles and functions of police officers in relation to justice administration. For justice to prevail, the police must be competent and efficient in their duties as state officers. Police are charged with gathering and disseminating information on activities affecting the public peace to the competent authorities. The police detect and bringing offenders to justice and apprehend all persons whom the police officer is legally authorized to apprehend (Bratton and Knobler, 2009). The police are tasked with subduing and apprehending the offender as well as and gathering evidence and any other useful information that could incriminate a suspect them. The police must apply for a warrant, summons or other legal procedures against a wrongdoer or offense in order for justice to prevail. If and when a police makes an arrest, he or she they must produce the arrested person to the nearest court of law before a 24-hour-lapse (Bratton and Knobler, 2009). Bratton and Knobler (2009) outline that, while administering law and order within the New York City, the police must take steps for every legal action to ensure fair distribution of justice to both the offenders and the offended. Additionally, the New York police must ensure to uphold and observe all the rights of individuals according to the human rights Act. Some of the essential human rights related to police administration of justice include freedom of expression and right to justice. The police cannot withdraw the freedoms under any circumstance. All citizens are entitled to such freedoms, and police have no power of denying citizens those rights unless, as described by law, individuals area of threat to national security. The police must apprehend and bring to justice individuals who commit cognizable crimes or offenses against the state or individuals or property (Bratton and Knobler, 2009). The police have the duty of enforcing the Penal code Act that delineates the conduct of people that totals to offense and the suitable reprimand for such crimes. They enforce this Act by detecting crime, preventing it and prosecuting g the criminals. Reference William Bratton and Peter Knobler. (2009). The Turnaround: How America's Top Cop Reversed the Crime Epidemic. New York. Random House Publishing Group Read More