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Landon J. Bock
Intro to Criminal Justice
Professor Christopher Elg
Saturday, April 1,2023
Criminal Justice Reflection Paper
My comprehension of the history, evolution, and present state of the criminal justice
system, as well as its practices, including how the laws are carried out and applied to offenses,
crimes, and offenders, has significantly improved since taking the Introduction to Criminal
Justice and Criminal Law course. By preventing and decreasing crime or by enforcing sanctions
against offenders, the criminal justice system seeks to maintain societal control. A few concepts
caught my attention as I was studying criminal justice. Chapter Six, under the heading Use of
Force, contains the concepts that, in my opinion, are most important to the criminal justice
system. This is a sensible idea. For instance: "Excessive force complaints against police officers
have been reported in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, and other places.Far too
much severity persists despite the fact that police officers go to work every day without
intending to use excessive force. (1) An example of the use of force would be: "According to a
2015 national survey, blacks (5.2%) and hispanics (5.1%) are more likely to experience the
threat or use of physical force than are whites (2.4%) when police initiate contact. (2).
When a police officer makes an arrest, they shouldn't let their feelings for the suspect
influence whether or not they use excessive force. In some circumstances, using extreme force is
necessary. Using excessive force is necessary if the officer feels that his life is at risk. But what
kind of excessive force ought the policeman to employ? Depending on how serious the person
was when they were arrested. by the police Whether the subject is under the influence of drugs or
alcohol is unknown to the policeman. Is it unethical for a police officer to taser a person in order
to force them to submit to the officer's commands? Personally, I think it depends on how serious
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the problem is. Tasers don't fully injure the person, hence in my opinion they are a necessary
type of force.
Question Two: Following Your Explanation, Discuss This New Knowledge Has Increased
Your Understanding , Awareness, or Perhaps Wisdom On Your Selected Topic
Sometimes the Use of Force is necessary to prevent the harm of the officer arresting the
suspect. But you have to use the correct procedures that your department uses during training to
resolve a suspect from getting hurt as well as the officer involved getting injured as well. As an
officer of that community a reputation is tarnished when the ones who are supposed to be
protecting the law become the lawbreakers. In closing, I have learned that the use of force to
apprehend a suspect must be done within the bounds of department procedures and policies as
well as in love. In Romans Chapter 13:1-4 it reads:“Since God alone is the source of all
authority, God alone has established the ones that already exist. Anyone who opposes the
authorities is thereby opposing what God has appointed, and such individuals will face
punishment.”
Source: One: Bohm, Robert, and Keith Haley. ISE Introduction to Criminal Justice. 2020.
Source Two: Bohm, Robert, and Keith Haley. ISE Introduction to Criminal Justice. 2020.
Source Three: Crossway. ESV Study Bible. Crossway, 2008.
