Problems Of Jurisdiction In Law Enforcement
Problems Of Jurisdiction In Law Enforcement
Introduction
Law enforcement has been a crucial pillar in the growth and development of any society, especially considering that it has a bearing on the peace and stability of the society. However, law enforcement officials operate within local, state and federal jurisdictions. However, these jurisdictions create some problems in tribal policing.
First, tribal police are often stretched thin over diverse and large geographical territories. For example, Hualapal Nation in Arizona has only a single police chief and ten commissioned officers expected to cover the one million acre reservation, as well as serve its 2800 residents (Dempsey & Forst, 2012).
In addition, they face immense lack of funding to create the infrastructure that would be needed in accomplishing their mission of policing. A 2007 research study on policing in Indian country noted that the federal government is the only body that had the authority to prosecute felony crimes on reservation (Dempsey & Forst, 2012). This usually creates confusion as FBI investigators and United States Attorneys face enormous challenges in fighting crime on these reservations as they are viewed as outsiders in which case they do not get the necessary trust from the local communities (Dempsey & Forst, 2012).
On the same note, the federal law enforcement officials have enormous burdens emanating from competing federal priorities especially with regard to terrorism and immigration.
Needless, to say, these problems have created confusion and discontent in the law as the enforcement agencies do not have clear jurisdictions, which often results in conflicts (Dempsey & Forst, 2012). On the same note, their insufficient funds and inability to serve the expansive geographical locations means that they cannot respond appropriately to crime, which breeds discontent in them among the local communities.
References
Dempsey, J. S., & Forst, L. S. (2012). An introduction to policing. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.
