Write a one page response to: "Are the police effective in their role as law reinforcers? Why or why not?"

Essay by gemini_magicHigh School, 10th grade May 2004

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Police are an important part of our society, they take part in administering the law. Without them, our society will be corrupt and unmanageable. But are the police given enough power to efficiently get their job done?

Firstly, if a person is suspected of committing a crime and he is arrested, the police must find further evidence within 48 hours, otherwise the suspect will be released. Also, after the police have arrested the suspect or taken him into custody, the suspect still has a lot of rights. For example, while the police are conducting a tape recorded interview with the suspect, the suspect has the right to remain silent and say "no comment" all the way through. This makes it harder for the police to conduct further investigation and find more evidence.

There are cases where the accused has appointed an experienced barrister that know the legislation too well and manipulated the law to set the accused free.

Also, under some circumstances, the accused is obviously guilty, but because of procedural technicalities in the process of prosecution, the accused is finally released.

Furthermore, life sentences can be reconsidered after the criminal has served a certain amount of years in jail; life sentences can be shortened. If life sentences are given to those who have committed the most malicious crimes and the police have gone into all sorts of trouble to put them behind the bars, why are they set free?

Last but not least, the law is very lenient on children (those under the age of 18). Most of the time, they are just given a formal warning. Even if children are summoned to court, they will most likely be given a warning by the judge and then returned home. The sentencing for adolescents are also very merciful.