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From Issue To Persuasion
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Issue 1
My future career prospects in liberal arts lean towards a Criminal Justice career path. The main focus in my career is policy formulation which entails exploring the various controversial issues in the justice system. the first issue in the criminal justice system that has raised diverse questions is the criminalization or legalization of drug use. Drug abuse has caused detrimental effects on various people globally. In the United States, peddlers of targeted drugs have received longer prison terms as part of the punishment. However, the issue continues. A section of the population believes that the best way to curb drug use and abuse is through its criminalization. The opposing argument of the same issue supports the legalization of drugs, especially for adults using such drugs for medical purposes. The legalization creates an avenue for monitoring the sale and purchase of various targeted drugs. Supporters of the legalization of drug use state that severe punishments exert a minimal impact on the population and drug use.
Issue 2
Another critical issue in the current criminal justice system is the rise of police shootings stemming from police discretion in the use of their firearms. Contemporary society has experienced an upsurge in police shootings. Such shootings often include innocent deaths, which ruin the essence of police discretion. Police discretion denotes the choice members of the police force enjoy of using their firearms in various situations. The police toe the line between lawfulness and illegal acts, forming the two opposing debates on police use of firearms. On one side, using guns provides the police force with the opportunity to protect the people in case of any danger. A police officer with a firearm stands a great chance of preserving the public.
On the contrary, police discretion on the use of firearms opens a way for illegal use, especially in discriminatory manners. The rising number of police shootings includes discrimination cases and extensive use of firearms against minority groups. For instance, a police officer might feel unsafe with a black suspect compared to a white one. The targeted use of firearms by police officers creates a loophole in effective law enforcement. Instead of protecting the whole population, the officers may discriminate against specific people because of pre-existing stereotypes. The police officers may subjugate the freedom in making arrests and using such weaponry.
Of the two arguments, I choose police discretional use of firearms as the issue to discuss in the final persuasive essay. The reason for choosing such a subject matter stems from the rising number of police shootings and, by extension, illegal shootings of minority groups. The power that police officers have regarding the use of firearms has led to increased tension in the public towards an organization that should protect the people. The side I might argue in the paper supports taking measures towards curbing the illegal use of firearms by the police force. As much as discretion is crucial to effective law enforcement, there is a need for discretionary limits. Thus, criminal justice should include legal practices that include various enforcement practices.
The topic of the criminal system and discretion practices by police officers benefits the public, fellow police officers, the government, and leadership. For instance, the public will gain further insight into the proper use of firearms and areas to report such illegal incidences. Changing the policy and practice approach ensures there is a limit to such discretion. The government benefits from formulating policies relating to the police use of firearms. Thus, exploring the topic extensively helps the contemporary population.