Discussion Questions, student responses and one Assignment (paper)

Week 4 Discussion

"Arrests and Use of Force" Please respond to the following: 

· Examine the “Police Use of Force” article from the e-activity and discuss the use-of-force continuum and how much force should be used during an arrest. Then, analyze the interrogation and questioning process that law enforcement officers can conduct after a justifiable arrest.  In your own opinion, determine whether or not you believe that these processes restrain officials from obtaining information related to crimes and include in your thoughts how the Miranda rights relate to your ideas.  Then, examine the e-activity article and discuss the use-of-force continuum.  Justify your answer.

· Reply to the post of at least one of your classmates with a meaningful reply that compares or contrasts the classmate's post to yours or adds further insight into the topic.  A meaningful Reply will typically contain at least 100 words.

Reply to: Eboni Berry

RE: Week 4 Discussion

The use of force is only to be used when necessary such as when there is a threat to society and their verbal commands are being ignored. If an officer tell someone to stop running away and put their hands on their head, the officer can use a taser when in range instead of so many open fire cases. Pinning someone down to the ground is a use of force but they are only supposed to do it to get them handcuffed. It does not take 5 officers sitting on someone, smashing their head into the grass suffocating them, which is called excessive force. Sometimes when some people are high on unknown drugs, tasing them will not stop them from attackng you so excessive force is sometimes needed but spraying someone is always the other answer, that works the majority of the time. Sometimes officers forget to read the suspect their Miranda rights which will send a person home. Your Miranda rights are always to be read when getting arrested. This is your rights to remain silent and do not say anything that can be used against them in court just as I did not do it, Jackie did it, she told me to.

Interrogation and questioning process after a justifiable arrest can be done in an interrogation room at the police station. Questioning someone about their whereabouts and who was there with them before during and after the crime. If you knew about a crime happening and wasn't there, you can still be charge. Withholding information can also send a person to jail or get fined. Sometimes the officers will lie about something to see if you will tell the truth or tell n yourself and others. Many times they will say they have proof or your DNA at the scene of the crime but with not proof in front of you, a lot of cases can get dismissed if the evidence isn't true. Questioning the suspect hoping they are telling the truth so officers can have a case to present to the DA.

Many times detectives and officers go to hard on suspects and they crash meaning they will tell them everything they know, and other times they are not hard enough and they end up with n case. I believe that in a true crime such as murder, attempt, hit and run cases that the detectives need to be firm and strict when finding the right information.

Week 4 Extra Credit Discussion- Are Police Allowed to Lie When Interviewing a Suspect?

Hi Class,

Please watch this VERY short YouTube video that explores this question (excuse the ads!) 

 Is it lawful for police to lie to a suspect during questioning?  Why?  If so, what limits should there be on lying during questioning a suspect?  If it is not okay, explain your feelings/opinion about this practice and why it is not okay.