ABSTRACT
Law is an instrument of social justice when it is applied in the best interest of the community. For the law to achieve its objective, there should be institutions that are entrusted with its enforcement, among which the police are on the first line. In its discretionary power, the police ensure safety and keep order in society. In doing so, the police officers have the leeway, known as discretion, of choosing what is proper and just in their consideration. Police discretion invokes many questions, as it is self-willed instead of being public oriented. In this context, a suspicious police officer violates the principle of liberty by threatening citizens in different ways, including offensive language, arrest and, detention as well as the use of force, which may even lead to the loss of life. For that reason, the social and legal research at hand explores the components surrounding police discretion to provide a solution. One of the proposed solutions is imposing accountability on police officers to lessen their misconduct and abuse of power while enforcing the law.
