Deck 2: Organizing Public Security in the United States

Question 1

What are the different types of law enforcement in the United States?

Answer 1

Local law enforcement accounts for the majority of the law enforcement in the United States.
States as well as the federal government also have policing powers and duties. Local policing employs 57.6 percent of the nation's police officers, while 12.1 percent work for the federal government and 30 percent at the state level. Nationwide, in 2008, there were 251 full-time state and local law enforcement employees for every 100,000 residents, for a nationwide sworn law enforcement employee average of 2.51 law enforcement employees per 1,000 citizens.

Question 2

Introduce several federal law enforcement agencies.

Answer 2

Four major U.S. cabinet departments manage, most federal law enforcement agencies and personnel: the Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of
Homeland Security, and the Department of the Interior. The U.S. Department of Justice is the primary legal and prosecutorial arm of the U.S. government. Included in this department are the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Within the
Department of the Treasury are the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Executive Office for
Asset Forfeiture (EOAF), the Executive Office for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crime
(EOTF/FC), the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and the Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network (Fin-CEN). The Department of Homeland Security merged 22 previously disparate domestic agencies into one department to protect the nation against threats to the homeland.

Question 3

What are some notable changes made in U.S. law enforcement following the September

Answer 3

11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States?
The federal government, in particular, responded to 9/11 by creating the huge cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security, which merged and improved the many disparate federal agencies concerned with terrorism, homeland defense, and response to catastrophic emergencies. Local, state, and private agencies also reengineered themselves to address the need for homeland defense.

Question 4

What are some of consequences of Operation Fast and Furious?

Question 5

The primary responsibility of local law enforcement in the United States is to ensure that its citizens are safe. Duties include making arrests and investigating crimes as well as addressing "qualify-of-life" issues. A great deal of police work requires direct contact with the community, and therefore, staffing decisions must take into account the specific needs of the department, candidates' professional experience, and demographic factors that could improve community dynamics.
This scenario focuses on factors considered in hiring police officers.
One night last week, there were four armed robberies, six vehicle thefts, and a rape reported to the police, all within a six-hour block. The Enterprise police force was stretched to its maximum, with several off-duty officers being called in to assist in dealing with the high number of incidents that night. Yesterday, three veteran officers sat down with the police chief to discuss how to deal more effectively with situations like that when they happen in the future.
"We've had an explosion of people moving into Enterprise, and as it stands right now, we can barely handle the criminal element that's already here. How can we be expected to keep up this pace day in, day out?" asked one officer.
Another officer chimed in, "I'm a 50-year-old white man. Do you know how uncomfortable it was for that 17-year-old black girl who got raped to have to talk to me because all the female officers were already busy?"

-Which agencies hold primary responsibility for protecting and serving the citizens of the United States?

A) local law enforcement agencies
B) state law enforcement agencies
C) federal law enforcement agencies
D) tribal law enforcement agencies

Question 6

The primary responsibility of local law enforcement in the United States is to ensure that its citizens are safe. Duties include making arrests and investigating crimes as well as addressing "qualify-of-life" issues. A great deal of police work requires direct contact with the community, and therefore, staffing decisions must take into account the specific needs of the department, candidates' professional experience, and demographic factors that could improve community dynamics.
This scenario focuses on factors considered in hiring police officers.
One night last week, there were four armed robberies, six vehicle thefts, and a rape reported to the police, all within a six-hour block. The Enterprise police force was stretched to its maximum, with several off-duty officers being called in to assist in dealing with the high number of incidents that night. Yesterday, three veteran officers sat down with the police chief to discuss how to deal more effectively with situations like that when they happen in the future.
"We've had an explosion of people moving into Enterprise, and as it stands right now, we can barely handle the criminal element that's already here. How can we be expected to keep up this pace day in, day out?" asked one officer.
Another officer chimed in, "I'm a 50-year-old white man. Do you know how uncomfortable it was for that 17-year-old black girl who got raped to have to talk to me because all the female officers were already busy?"

-Research has indicated one issue that results in negative consequences for police officers, such as lack of days off and forced overtime. What is that issue?

A) chronic understaffing
B) lack of minorities in policing
C) unions
D) increasing budgets

Question 7

What Would You Do?
You are Enterprise's police chief. Because of the growth in population and the corresponding increase in crime rates, you have determined that it is time to hire three more officers. In the past, your team has utilized traditional methods of hiring, and currently the Enterprise police force is made up of mostly white males. Because your department needs employees immediately, you are considering conducting a similar hiring search to those conducted in the past. This would be the quickest, least-expensive, and easiest way to fill the open positions quickly, so as to give the fastest respite to your overworked team. However, as in the past, it is likely that the majority of those who apply for the positions will be white males.
Alternatively, recent events have shown that it might be prudent to take a more affirmative-action-focused approach to hiring new personnel. The department would benefit from having more officers of color and more females to better represent the actual population of Enterprise more closely. This method would cost more in time and money, would require more effort in reaching out to specific communities and organizations, and would take longer. Although this means that the department would not get help as quickly as they would by doing it the "regular way," the added benefits to the diversity of the workforce would be positive for the department and the community as a whole.
-Which alternative do you choose when seeking to hire three new officers for the Enterprise Police Department?

Question 8

Using the currently available applicants in the pool to choose three new officers is a good idea but may not provide you with a better representation of the community as a whole. Alternatives methods for attractive applicants who are not white males will take longer but may be a better long-term solution.
The job announcements were posted and applicants were sought through the standard channels, using the methodology the department had successfully used before. Enterprise's current police officers were pleased that they were going to have more staff members to share their growing workload. The postings received 11 total applicants.

-Most metropolitan law enforcement department are operated by one of two governments: municipal or __________.

A) city
B) tribal
C) county
D) regional

Question 9

Using the currently available applicants in the pool to choose three new officers is a good idea but may not provide you with a better representation of the community as a whole. Alternatives methods for attractive applicants who are not white males will take longer but may be a better long-term solution.
The job announcements were posted and applicants were sought through the standard channels, using the methodology the department had successfully used before. Enterprise's current police officers were pleased that they were going to have more staff members to share their growing workload. The postings received 11 total applicants.

-What happened in many law enforcement agencies following the recession of 2008?

A) Many officers were laid off from their jobs.
B) Nothing, the recession had no impact on law enforcement agencies.
C) Law enforcement budgets were increased to address the increases in crime.
D) More officers were hired to address the increases in crime.

Question 10

What Would You Do?
Of the 11 applicants for the three open positions, two of these applicants were disqualified for failing the physical fitness test, and two others failed the medical exam, one of them for testing positive for drugs. Of the seven remaining candidates, five were white males; one was a black male; and the final candidate was an Asian female. After further screening and in comparing the applicants' resumes, the offer for two of the open positions was made to one of the white males and to the black male, both of whom accepted. Two of the other white male candidates are good options and have more years of experience than the Asian female.
-You are the Enterprise police chief. Will you offer the Asian female the third open position even though she has less experience than the two white male candidates?

Question 11

Summary A
It is important to address such issues as having female officers available for issues similar to the one described in this scenario. Although experience is important it is also a quality that can be developed over time. Gender and race is not. It should be made clear to current officers that diversity is an important goal of the department.
To learn more about the demographics of police officers at local, state, and federal levels in America, see "The U.S. Public Security Industry."
Summary B
In order to protect and serve the community, the most qualified candidates should be hired. Although diversity is important and should be considered, the two white male officers with more experience will require less training time and thus be in the field more quickly. Future efforts should be made to focus on diversity in hiring once the situation is not so critical.
To learn more about the demographics of police officers at local, state, and federal levels in America, see "The U.S. Public Security Industry."
Partnering with organizations that can connect you with qualified women and minorities will take longer but will increase diversity in the department. You need to make it clear to your current officers that hiring in this new way may take longer but will also help to address issues related to diversity in the community.
Dan Booth, the senior officer you selected to head up this endeavor, attended a two-day training on diversity practices. He partnered with the National Diversity Council, the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement (NCRLE), and several other organizations to increase the number of minority and female applicants applying for the open positions. He estimates it will take three months to find and hire qualified diversity candidates.

-Most metropolitan law enforcement department are operated by one of two governments: municipal or __________.

A) city
B) tribal
C) county
D) regional

Question 12

Summary A
It is important to address such issues as having female officers available for issues similar to the one described in this scenario. Although experience is important it is also a quality that can be developed over time. Gender and race is not. It should be made clear to current officers that diversity is an important goal of the department.
To learn more about the demographics of police officers at local, state, and federal levels in America, see "The U.S. Public Security Industry."
Summary B
In order to protect and serve the community, the most qualified candidates should be hired. Although diversity is important and should be considered, the two white male officers with more experience will require less training time and thus be in the field more quickly. Future efforts should be made to focus on diversity in hiring once the situation is not so critical.
To learn more about the demographics of police officers at local, state, and federal levels in America, see "The U.S. Public Security Industry."
Partnering with organizations that can connect you with qualified women and minorities will take longer but will increase diversity in the department. You need to make it clear to your current officers that hiring in this new way may take longer but will also help to address issues related to diversity in the community.
Dan Booth, the senior officer you selected to head up this endeavor, attended a two-day training on diversity practices. He partnered with the National Diversity Council, the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement (NCRLE), and several other organizations to increase the number of minority and female applicants applying for the open positions. He estimates it will take three months to find and hire qualified diversity candidates.

-What happened in many law enforcement agencies following the recession of 2008?

A) Many officers were laid off from their jobs.
B) Nothing, the recession had no impact on law enforcement agencies.
C) Law enforcement budgets were increased to address the increases in crime.
D) More officers were hired to address the increases in crime.

Question 13

What Would You Do?
You are Enterprise's police chief. You understand that your police force is already overworked and that three months of continued overtime shifts will be a hardship for the whole team. You also understand that your community is not as fairly represented across the demographic spectrum as it could be. You take all factors into consideration in hopes of doing what's best for the department in both the short and long terms.
In considering what to do, you rule out rushing this process because you recognize the importance of increasing diversity on your team. This leaves you with the option of accepting Booth's offer of three months or giving him less time in hopes of filling positions sooner.
-Which do you choose?

Question 14

In 2015, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that for the latest reporting year, local, state, and federal agencies spent approximately how much on criminal justice agencies, including police, corrections, and judicial services?

A) $265 billion
B) $500 billion
C) $1 trillion
D) $1 billion

Question 15

The Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) program collects data to __________.

A) monitor employment opportunities in law enforcement
B) understand law enforcement personnel and practices
C) track crime activity across the nation
D) provide conviction data in certain states for specific crimes

Question 16

What social factors are driving the expansion in law enforcement?

A) reduced agency budgets and more stringent demands for enforcement of laws
B) a more security-conscious society and concern about drug-related crimes, which contribute to the increasing demand for police services
C) changing social expectations demanding rehabilitation for convicted persons
D) a more progressive social attitude about collaborative work across agencies

Question 17

Which of the following statements reflects generalizations made about the U.S. law enforcement industry?

A) The size and scope of the U.S. law enforcement industry is enormous, and it is also diverse and fragmented.
B) The U.S. law enforcement industry is complex and incredibly homogeneous.
C) The size and scope of the U.S. law enforcement industry is enormous, but it is reducing in size.
D) The U.S. law enforcement industry is well organized, and predominantly global.

Question 18

In addition to patrol, investigation, and arrest, county police officers may also serve in the role of a ________.

A) defense attorney
B) coroner
C) security detail to the governor
D) state highway patrol

Question 19

Federal immigration authorities have the legal right to ________.

A) demand cooperation from all local law enforcement officers
B) deputize local law enforcement officers to assist in arrests
C) call on any other federal departments to facilitate arrests
D) arrest anyone who does not carry papers confirming immigration status

Question 20

When a crime is committed on tribal land, jurisdiction may be determined by ________.

A) whether the victim is American Indian
B) the language of the criminal code
C) whether the perpetrator is underage
D) the prosecutor in the case

Question 21

The financial downturn in 2008 caused many law enforcement agencies to ________.

A) increase spending on prevention programs
B) hire more officers
C) share with financial resources with each other
D) reconsider priorities and allocation of resources

Question 22

Which one of the following short-term, cost-saving measures was NOT implemented after the financial downturn in 2008?

A) slowdown or reduction in response time to certain types of calls
B) reduction in sworn positions, replaced by nonsworn
C) increased use of Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) in place of officers
D) reduction of technology use

Question 23

At the state level, the two distinct models of law enforcement agencies are the ________.

A) centralized model of state law enforcement and the organized model of state law enforcement
B) centralized model of state law enforcement and the decentralized model of state law enforcement
C) decentralized model of state law enforcement and the regionalized model of state law enforcement
D) localized model of state law enforcement and the dissipated model of state law enforcement

Question 24

The centralized model of state law enforcement ________.

A) combines traffic enforcement on state highways with criminal investigation duties
B) is typically found in states on the western and eastern coastlines
C) is unwilling to assist local police departments
D) is typically found in many southern and mid-western as well as some western states

Question 25

The decentralized model of state law enforcement ________.

A) merges traffic enforcement on state highways and other state-level law enforcement functions
B) is found in many southern and mid-western as well as some western states
C) is not used by California
D) typically is divided into three or more separate agencies

Question 26

Sanctuary cities have ________.

A) implemented policies that promote and encourage ICE activity
B) local police officers to enforce federal immigration laws
C) refused, at varying levels and in varying ways, to cooperate with federal immigration officers
D) actively cooperated with federal immigration officers

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT true of sanctuary cities?

A) They limit cooperation with the national government to help people in the country illegally avoid deportation.
B) They assist federal efforts to detain or deport illegal immigrants.
C) They may be in conflict with state and federal laws.
D) They attempt to fight crime by building trust with residents and encouraging them to report problems.

Question 28

The U.S. Constitution ________.

A) does not create a national police force
B) creates a national police force
C) give the national government power over most crimes
D) does not allow cities to enforce their own laws within their geographic area

Question 29

The number of federal law enforcement officers has ________.

A) dropped by over half since 1982
B) increased. but expenditures have dropped
C) increased steadily since 9/11
D) held steady since 2002, after a dramatic increase in the months after 9/11

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT true about federal law enforcement officers, according to the most recent reporting period?

A) A third of federal officers are members of a racial or ethnic minority.
B) Women account for 16 percent of federal law enforcement employees.
C) Fewer Hispanics than African Americans are employed in federal law enforcement.
D) Women and minorities are underrepresented.

Question 31

Four major U.S. cabinet departments administer most federal law enforcement agencies and personnel. Which one of the following is NOT among them?

A) Department of the Treasury
B) Department of Housing and Urban Development
C) Department of the Interior
D) Department of Justice

Question 32

Which of the following statements about the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is most accurate?

A) The FBI employs more than 30,000 personnel not engaged in enforcement.
B) The FBI requires all special agents to attend the FBI Academy.
C) The FBI is a national police force.
D) The FBI does not assist other law enforcement agencies.

Question 33

Which of the following is NOT a service provided to other law enforcement agencies by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)?

A) Uniform Crime Reports (UCRs)
B) National Incident-Based Reporting System
C) International Fingerprint File
D) FBI Crime Lab

Question 34

The DEA's (Drug Enforcement Agency) primary responsibilities are NOT associated with ________.

A) conducting surveillance operations
B) tracking chemicals used to manufacture illegal drugs
C) registering manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers of pharmaceutical drugs
D) leading the nation's marijuana legalization program

Question 35

Which of the following statements about the U.S. Marshals Service is most accurate?

A) It is not allowed to access other federal, state, or local law enforcement officers.
B) It protects witnesses in state and local trials.
C) It operates the federal Witness Security Program.
D) It is in charge of U.S. national security.

Question 36

The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) does NOT ________.

A) assist law enforcement agencies to prosecute criminals who have large amounts of undeclared income
B) focus primarily on small businesses with the goal of preventing tax evasion
C) investigate tax fraud, unreported income, and hidden assets
D) enforce laws regulating federal income tax and its collection

Question 37

Many smaller federal agencies have limited law enforcement responsibilities. Which statement is NOT true?

A) The Department of State has the Bureau of Diplomatic Security to investigate matters involving passport and visa fraud.
B) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the enforcement of the laws regulating the sale and distribution of illegal drugs.
C) The Department of Agriculture has enforcement officers in its U.S. Forest Service.
D) The U.S. Mint has a police department that safeguards the nation's coinage and gold bullion reserves.

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT a role played by Interpol?

A) tracking and providing information that may help other law enforcement agencies apprehend criminal fugitives
B) serving as a clearinghouse and depository of intelligence information on wanted criminals
C) answering requests from police officials of any member country for assistance on a case that extends beyond their country's jurisdiction
D) integrating policing units across the world to assist with active enforcement of cross-national laws