Patterns of Use of Police Discretion
Abstract
This literature review examines patterns of use of police discretion in the context of certain populations and/or scenarios. It reveals that juveniles, minorities, domestic violence, the mentally ill, and protestors represent populations/scenarios in which police discretion is most often used and is potentially problematic. It reveals that policies which attempt to curtail police discretion tend to be counterproductive and interfere with the ability of the police to support victims. Implications for justice are discussed, as well as missing elements in the literature.