Consent Decree

 

From this week’s assigned readings, you have learned about how a police department under consent decree differs from that of a police department addressing standard training needs. Compare and contrast these two training styles. What are the objectives and training design for each of these two types of training styles? What are the foci and restrictions of a police department under consent decree? Who, when, and under what circumstances is it appropriate to issue consent decree? Do you believe consent decree is effective at addressing training deficiencies in an organization? Why or why not?

 

Our discussion first, the individuals answer tell bad and good of post, list references.

 

(Am)

 

A consent decree occurs when multiple groups arrive at an agreement and is submitted to a court, which has to be approved by a judge before it can be implemented. With a consent decree, it can last for many years. When the Los Angeles Police Department became involved with the Department of Justice and a consent decree, it was required that it lasted a minimum of five years (LAPD, n.d.). The consent decrees purpose between the LAPD and the Department of Justice is that it sought to improve the integrity of the police department. According to the authors of Training the 21^st Century Police Officer (2003), the decree is also intended to “prevent conduct that deprives persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or provoked by the Constitution or laws of the United States” (p. iii). The standard training needs would provide recruits with the foundation of becoming a police officer. This could mean that the academies may not expand on how not to deprive a person of their rights while the officer is attempting to apprehend an individual. For example, the Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) curriculum may provide a minimum of training requirements and can vary by state. With the consent decree, on the other hand, it looks at five areas more in depth: use of force, search and seizure, arrest, community policing, and diversity (Glenn, Panitch, & Barnes-Proby, 2003).

 

In my opinion, the consent decree is used to retrain officers on specified aspects, so they can perform the job with efficiency and excellence. The POST seems to provide a step above the bare minimum for officers to do their job. With a consent decree, a reform is needed. The department is required to make changes throughout the organization, including the way officers are trained. It could also mean that the veteran officers would have to be retrained on the new policies and procedures.

 

From my understanding, the federal government has the ability to issue a consent decree. As for when it is issued, it could be when a department is facing severe legal action. In addition, it could be implemented when it has been found that there are many issues occurring throughout the department. I do believe that a consent decree would be an effective way to resolve any training deficiencies. I think that law enforcement organizations should be given a chance to rectify any issues before receiving a reprimand or punishment.

 

Glenn, R., Panitch, B. R., & Barnes-Proby, D. (2003). Training the 21st Century Police Officer : Redefining Police Professionalism for the Los Angeles Police Department. Santa Monica: Rand Corporation. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/lib/ashford/reader.action?docID=10056184

 

LAPD. (n.d.). Consent Decree Overview. Retrieved from LAPD: http://www.lapdonline.org/search_results/content_basic_view/928