This journal articles discusses police use of discretion when carrying out general patrol duties, with a focus on offences commonly committed by young people. It examines results of a written survey that was completed by 220 NSW police officers, to identify that the different police officers surveyed would use their discretion in different ways in response to the same scenario.

Ann Parker and Rick Sarre, 'Policing young offenders: what role discretion?' (2008) 10(4) International Journal of Police Science & Management 474

The law places limits on how police operate. Within those limits, police have a large amount of discretion about how they act. The way police use their discretion shapes people’s experiences with the criminal legal system and has been repeatedly linked to the over-representation of Aboriginal people in custody.

Police discretion

Diversions are options that police can use to prevent people from entering or continuing in the criminal legal system. Law and policy place some conditions on when diversions can be used. Police also have discretion about whether to use diversions. Research shows that diversions are underused for Aboriginal people, especially...

Document

Ann Parker and Rick Sarre, 'Policing young offenders: what role discretion?' (2008) 10(4) International Journal of Police Science & Management 474

Police discretion

Policing and diversions