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Title

Decision-making and young offenders: examining the role of discretion in police judgments

Author(s)

McKillop, Dianne;  Pfeifer, Jeffrey

Abstract

Police employ a significant amount of discretion when dealing with juvenile offenders. Specifically, officers often have to decide whether to issue an informal warning, a formal warning, or apprehend a juvenile offender. The decision may depend on various extra-legal influences such as an officer’s experience, perceptions, attitudes and beliefs. The dynamics surrounding these discretionary decisions deserve examination given research suggesting they may be subject to cognitive biases. This paper presents data from Western Australian police officers’ reports on incidents involving juvenile offenders. The reports include information regarding specific reasons for the action taken and the importance assigned to them. Results indicate consistencies. The data are discussed in terms of their input into structuring discretionary decision making.

Publication type

Journal article

Source

Canadian Journal of Police and Security Services, Vol. 2, no. 4 (Winter 2004), pp. 209-214

Publication year

2004

FOR Code(s)

1602 Criminology

Keyword(s)

Australian police officers;  Bias;  Canada;  Corrections;  Crime;  Decision making;  Juvenile offenders;  Personal bias;  Police discretion;  Policing;  Prejudice;  Risk assessment;  Young offenders

Publisher

Meritus Solutions

ISSN

1709-8769

Copyright

Copyright © 2004 Meritus Solutions, Inc. This work is reproduced in good faith. Every reasonable effort has been made to trace the copyright owner. For more information please contact researchbank@swin.edu.au.

Full text

Peer reviewed