The Impact of Discretion in the Criminal Justice Career: Probation Officer

by | Oct 10, 2023 | criminal justice

For this discussion, you will choose a career in criminal justice and analyze how the amount of discretion can impact the decision-making process for that career. You will describe instances in which wide and limited discretion are afforded, and give the benefits and drawbacks of different amounts of discretion. This discussion will help you consider how the amount of discretion impacts decision making. You will be faced with a similar task in Project Three, in which you will be analyzing two situations with varying amounts of discretion in the law enforcement field.

First, choose a criminal justice career from the State/Local Law Enforcement or Corrections sections of the Social Sciences career exploration page from mySNHU.

In your initial post, include the following:

State the career you chose.
Describe an instance in which wide discretion is afforded to the career, and explain how that may impact the decision-making process.
Describe an instance in which discretion may be limited to the career, and explain how that may impact the decision-making process.
In response to two of your peers, explain any additional benefits or drawbacks to having wide or limited discretion in their chosen career field. You may also want to describe any other instances in that career field in which the criminal justice professional is afforded wide or limited discretion, and how this may impact the decision-making process.

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

The Impact of Discretion in the Criminal Justice Career: Probation Officer
Introduction
In the field of criminal justice, the role of a probation officer is crucial in ensuring the rehabilitation and successful reintegration of individuals who have been convicted of crimes. Probation officers play a dual role as law enforcers and social workers, making decisions that can significantly impact the lives of their clients. The amount of discretion afforded to probation officers can greatly influence their decision-making process, both positively and negatively. This essay will explore instances where wide discretion and limited discretion are given to probation officers and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Wide Discretion: The Power to Tailor Rehabilitation Programs
One instance where probation officers are afforded wide discretion is in the ability to tailor rehabilitation programs to meet the unique needs of their clients. Each individual has different circumstances and factors that contribute to their criminal behavior. By having the freedom to design personalized programs, probation officers can address the root causes of criminal behavior, such as substance abuse or mental health issues. This approach increases the chances of successful rehabilitation, reducing recidivism rates, and promoting public safety. Wide discretion allows probation officers to be creative and innovative in their approach, providing individualized support that can truly make a difference in the lives of their clients.

Wide Discretion: Flexibility in Case Management
Another instance where wide discretion benefits probation officers is in case management. Probation officers often have heavy caseloads, and each case requires careful monitoring and supervision. Wide discretion allows probation officers to prioritize cases based on risk assessment and allocate resources accordingly. They have the flexibility to determine the frequency and intensity of supervision based on the individual’s progress and behavior. This approach ensures that probation officers can focus their efforts on high-risk individuals, providing them with the necessary support and intervention, while allowing low-risk individuals to progress under less intensive supervision. Such flexibility optimizes resources and improves overall efficiency in the criminal justice system.

Limited Discretion: Mandatory Sentencing Guidelines
While wide discretion provides probation officers with the ability to make informed decisions based on individual circumstances, there are instances where discretion may be limited. One such instance is mandatory sentencing guidelines imposed by legislation. In certain cases, probation officers may be bound by strict guidelines that leave little room for flexibility. This limitation can hinder the officer’s ability to consider mitigating factors or individual needs when determining appropriate sentences or rehabilitation programs. Mandatory sentencing guidelines may result in harsh penalties for non-violent offenses or fail to address underlying issues that contribute to criminal behavior. Limited discretion can undermine the potential for effective rehabilitation and limit the ability to tailor interventions to individual needs.

Limited Discretion: Budget Constraints
Another factor that limits discretion for probation officers is budget constraints. In many jurisdictions, financial resources are limited, which can impact the type and extent of services available to individuals under supervision. Probation officers may be forced to make decisions based on resource availability rather than the specific needs of their clients. Limited discretion due to budget constraints can result in reduced access to mental health treatment, substance abuse programs, or educational and vocational training opportunities. This limitation can undermine the effectiveness of probation and hinder successful reintegration into society.

Conclusion
The amount of discretion afforded to probation officers has a significant impact on their decision-making process and the outcomes for individuals under their supervision. Wide discretion allows for flexibility in tailoring rehabilitation programs and case management, promoting successful reintegration into society and reducing recidivism rates. However, limited discretion imposed by mandatory sentencing guidelines or budget constraints can hinder effective rehabilitation efforts and fail to address individual needs. Striking a balance between wide and limited discretion is crucial in ensuring that probation officers have the necessary tools to make informed decisions while considering public safety, individual circumstances, and available resources.

 

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