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Final Capstone Project Module 5 Revised

This document discusses the importance for law enforcement officers to have a critical understanding of modern criminology and criminal justice issues. It notes that the criminal justice system and policing have changed significantly in recent decades. The document also summarizes two classes taken by the author - one on issues in law enforcement, which covered corrections and recidivism, and another on the future of drug policy. It discusses the link between drug use and societal problems like homelessness, crime, and mental health issues. The rising prevalence of mental health calls that police must handle is also mentioned.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

269 views3 pages

Final Capstone Project Module 5 Revised

Uploaded by

api-516391890

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

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Module 5: Critical Understanding of Modern Criminology and Criminal Justice Issues

If you want to succeed and have a great career in law enforcement, you need to have a

critical understanding of modern criminology and criminal justice issues. Policing and the

criminal justice system are constantly changing and revising, most of the time providing law

enforcement will less and less tools to use. Law enforcement officers who worked until the year

2000 would see a significantly different policing environment from when they left. Case law,

new laws imposed by the politicians, and use of force and policing styles are much different

than what they used to be. Officers today have to much more cognizant about what they say

and do, because society is so quick to demonize them. In this program, I have taken classes in

issues in law enforcement and communications for law enforcement leaders. These classes

have taught new skills and improved my communication skills which will help me during my

career in law enforcement.

In LEPS 500, Issues in Law Enforcement, I learned about corrections and recidivism.

From the time policing has started until today, there have been a huge number of changes in

the way the justice system thinks in regard to the corrections process. During this course, I

learned about how prisons began to get so full, and who was likely to go to prison or jail more.

During the war on drugs, officers were making felony arrests for possession of illegal narcotics

and prisoners of violent crimes were receiving longer prison sentences. Unfortunately, today,

the war on drugs have disappeared and drugs have become to run rampant. Drugs increase

have a huge influence on the growing homelessness and mental health issue growing in

America, and until we address the drug issue, it will never get better.

The second assignment I chose was the future of American Drug Policing. This issue is

something of huge important with today’s society. In larger cities such as San Francisco, Los
Module 5: Critical Understanding of Modern Criminology and Criminal Justice Issues

Angeles, Seattle and other large cities, they are constantly faced with quality of life issues due

to homelessness and drug users. The homeless population and mental health population can be

directly linked with the use of illegal narcotics, specifically methamphetamine, however for

some reason state leaders do not want to face the issue head on. I learned in this class and

through my experience that heavy drug users do not only cause those issues which have

already been stated, but are also largely responsible for thefts, all types of burglaries,

shoplifting and other issues regarding quality of life for citizens. Not only is law enforcement

expected to deal with the crimes and issues caused by this population, but less serious

punishments are being implemented.

In LEPS 510, Communications for Law Enforcement Leaders, I learned about the rising

level of mental health within the United States. Mental health issues used to not be a large

issue pertaining to law enforcement, however police agencies are being forced to have to

address mental health issues. Mental health issues can affect the subject’s mood, behavior,

thinking and the likeliness of violence. During my career so far in law enforcement, I have

attended numerous courses regarding how to communicate with and de-escalate mental health

calls. Due to some unfortunate incidents between mental health subjects and law enforcement,

some of the public think that officers are not properly trained to handle mental health calls.

Currently, officers are the only ones who handle the initial mental health call, however due to

recent events the public has been trying to push for social workers to handle mental health calls

which may cause a shift in modern criminology.

Police officers and police departments constantly change and adapt to address criminal

justice issues. Being able to grasp these issues and address them properly create officers who
Module 5: Critical Understanding of Modern Criminology and Criminal Justice Issues

have a good understanding of modern technology. A police officer officers’ job is to try to make

the city as safe as they can for the citizens of the community, and by being able to understand