Critical Incident Management - Research Paper Example

Scenario planning is “a comprehensive planning tool that some of the dedicated firms make use of to achieve their long-term goals” (Eppen, Martin, & Scharge, 1989). Scenario-based planning ensures the management of civil liberties in justice organization that they unintentionally compromise fulfilling other duties. It also makes sure that the organizations do not forget public safety while satisfying other demands. The role of scenario planning within these organizations is to minimize or control these risks (Tibettes, 1998).

Many security and justice organizations have policies that make them implement on the actual rules and regulation of these companies. To understand this clearly, example of use of force is appropriate. The policies regarding use of force describe an increasing sequence of actions that an officer can take to handle a situation (Tibettes, 1998). This sequence usually has many levels of intensities, and there is a strict instruction for officers to use an appropriate level of intensity of force, keeping in mind the present situation. This also allows an officer to shift from one level of sequence to another without much difficulty. In law enforcement, there is a huge carefulness which makes it very important; police discretion refers to the autonomy of a justice agency or individual officer working in that or any other justice agency to choose to involve in a certain situation to handle it or not (Tibettes, 1998). The implementation of scale of discretion by an office is when an officer arrests a person for a DUI (Driving under the influence); there is a low discretion in this incident in the name of public safety. High discretion is observed when as officer issues a citation on a driver failing to signal a lane change.

In particular, the “amount of effort required by police to compel compliance from an unwilling subject is legal definition of use of force” (Tibettes, 1998). Officers should not use any force if they find no conflicts, fights or battles, in other words, no force if there is no resistance. As an example, the sequence of intensities of force starts from officer using verbalization for controlling a situation; if situation does not come under control, he can go for Empty Hand Control. Even when the situation gets worse, an  officer can go for Soft Hand Technique, then gradually Less Lethal Method (Surette, 2010). If the situation cannot be controlled with any of the above methods, officers can have an impact on it with the use of weapon, then chemical spray, and then finally the use of lethal force.

There are many debates regarding the use of force continuum. These are regarding the convenience of techniques or tools under this continuum. Should the law include this method in the policies and would they might increase the liability? Use of force is not appropriate for every situation because not every situation can convert into a continuum (Tibettes, 1998).

The law enforcement and other criminal and justice agencies need to structure their organization in a way that everyone can openly share their ideas and opinions; there is no fear of saying anything even if it is wrong. Most importantly, veterans should give their teachings to the naives, and naives should share their spirits with veterans (Surette, 2010). The supervisors in this area must confer and resolve the contradictory signals between the officers, politicians, society, officers, outside organizations and the press. Diplomacy should not be given importance at all and inexperienced should also get a chance along with experienced ones. In struggle to resolve the problem of lethal force, there is need to modify the viewpoint and position of people both in the police community and society to have a hold on the cultural standards and have a halt on the use of force by the officers while conducting the situations pertinent to these issues (Marien, 1991).

            Today, societies have their structures is such a way that it becomes necessary for police officers to apply the force. In such a situation, veterans should show their persistence and control the situation in a better way.

The law enforcement and other agencies should preserve the knowledge regarding the scenarios in their facets so that the newly assigned officers can get help from them. Staff and officers should get a proper training on scenario based planning. Supervisors should make policies that prove to be helpful in using scenario based planning (Klofas & Stojkovic, 1995). Scenario based planning can contribute in saving the society from many dangers. If the agencies are already aware of what measures they can take at a particular situation, they would not take much time in responding if the situation actually takes place; not only in criminal agencies but also in many other kind of organizations, such as hospitals, multinational corporations, banks and other companies.