ABSTRACT
Law enforcement agencies are responsible for detection, investigation, and arrest. The detection of crime results from a decision in which police weigh available evidence in light of experience and training. Constitutional requirements limit police behavior. Searches are governed by the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures by requiring that probable cause be established and that a warrant be secured prior to search. The exclusionary rule, which renders inadmissible the evidence collected in violation of defendant rights, is a device for controlling police misbehavior. The rule’s “good faith” exception exemplifies the conflict between due process and crime control. The Fifth Amendment prevents coerced confessions during interrogation. The Miranda v. Arizona decision required police to inform suspects in custody of their right to remain silent and to have an attorney during questioning. Four salient issues include police misconduct, use of force, community relations, and the effectiveness of police in crime control.
