Law enforcement
- Police Subculture
The culture of suspicion comes into play in this context. Police officers acted on suspicion while handling the Willingham case. New evidence created this suspicion leading to reinvestigating the case. Furthermore, the secrecy of information in police work is evident when the key witness Johnny Webb, reveals defendant confession.
- Police Discretion
The decision by law enforcement to narrow down the evidence that led to the execution of Willingham created a lasting impact on the criminal justice system on the use of forensic evidence in a criminal trial. It was the discretion of the officers at the time of execution that the evidence gathered was sufficient to warrant criminal prosecution. Consequently, the discretion resulted in execution, which is now challenged by other investigating bodies.
- Notable legal cases that might have played a role
The use of Miranda rights might have played a role in determining the composition of a criminal trial in this case. The defendant might not have understood the privileges given to him Miranda rights. During interviews, the suspect was not given an adequate warning regarding the statement he was about to make.
- How the 5th Amendment affected the case and police actions
The Amendment changed the case because the sanity of the defendant was questionable at the time the investigation was conducted, and the psychiatric test was not done. Furthermore, the absence of warnings and waiver as required by Miranda may have affected police actions and the case. The provision by Miranda that the officer cannot interrogate the suspects in custody also affected the situation.
- Interrogation
Interrogation conducted when the incident occurred both on the defendant and witnesses elicited incriminating responses from Willingham. However, the new scientific evidence contradict earlier confessions made by the defendant.
Question 2.
Law enforcement requires discretion from the officers. Exercising discretion in policing can change the outlook of the justice system. The fate of criminal suspects depends on the decisions and the actions of the police officers. For instance, law enforcement officers may decide to pursue a suspect on a given case, depending on their evaluation of the scenario.
The way interrogation is carried out by the enforcement officers might change the course of criminal justice. How and when the investigation is conducted has a direct impact on the criminal trial. For example, a criminal suspect may refuse to state because they were not warned, thereby interfering with their confessions.
Lastly, police subculture is vital in the admission of criminal justice. For example, the use of force by the officers in handling suspects can alter the justice process.
Question 3.
The country is facing uncertain times in history due to the coronavirus pandemic. The global respiratory illness has forced the state to devise laws and directives to curb the spread of the virus. Restriction of movement, social distancing, and the wearing of the mask are some of the guidelines the government has enacted to contain the virus. There have been mixed reactions from the citizens regarding these laws. Some individuals are obeying the stipulated measures, while others are protesting the move, especially on restricted movement citing human rights violation.
Law enforcement agencies play a significant role in ensuring the set directives are adhered to. One of the fundamental obligations of police officers is to protect human life. The coronavirus pandemic presents dangers to every citizen. Therefore police officers should be more stringent in enforcing the directives stipulated by the government. Police officers should employ their moral order and control while handling the protesters and, if possible, explain to protesters the importance of obeying the laws. Moreover, the citizens need to understand that restricted movement, wearing masks and observing social distancing are vital measures to their safety and, as such, should cooperate with the law enforcement for ease implementation.
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