1.Police officers typically are called upon to exercise discretion when on patrol. Given the...

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1.Police officers typically are called upon to exercise discretion when on patrol. Given the chapter’s observations on choice and free will, in what ways or in what situations might the choices of officers be constrained?2. Please explain the difference between determinism and indeterminism. How is the notion of causality related to these concepts? Do you believe that the choices you make as a student, employee, boyfriend/girlfriend, etc., are determined? Mindful of the determinism versus indeterminism distinction, are the choices of those who break the law different from your own? If so, how?3. Please list four examples of internal determinism and four examples of external determinism. Do you believe that “biology” or “psychology” determines the choices that people make? If so, to what extent? Using the example of gang membership, how might biological or psychological determinism help account for this choice?Answer the following questions based on the assigned readings:

4. If M’Naughten had been correct, Peel intentional and forcefully caused M’Naughten to suffer failure and losses, would it have been morally right for M’Naughten to shoot peel in the back? If your answer is no, do you think it morally right to have found M’Naughten not guilty by reason of insanity? Explain your answer.

5. John Hinckley was placed in a mental hospital after he attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan (see above). Recently a Federal District court allowed Hinckley to be released for a short period of time to visit with his family. The Justice Department tried to prevent his release claiming he was still insane.

6. Do you think it is ethical to allow him to leave the institution to visit his family? If he is diagnosed as cured – no longer mentally ill – he can be released legally from the mental institution permanently. is it ethical to release him. Explain your answer.

Parul · Accepted Answer

Police discretion is often play as a thin line between illegal acts and lawfulness. After comprehending the chapter, I can discern that there is always an option given and a person can act on his own free will. However, for a police officer sometimes situations can dictate certain actions that might feel like choices are constrained. On the job they are given the authority to apply their discretion however, there exist a broad framework that they cannot cross else they will be in contempt of the law. For instance, following are the list of decisions that a police officer requires to provide their discretion
· Whether to register a traffic ticket or let go or launch some violation complaint
· Whether to shoot fire on the site of crime
· If they should stop and help someone
· If it is necessary to make an arrest.
As per the Determinism theory all actions of humans is a result of preceding events and not a result of exercising free will. This theory suggests that an uncaused action or event is not possible.
As per Indeterminism, certain actions or decisions have no relation from the past and they are pure coincidence. These actions have no connection with the person who is performing the act.
There is a lot of difference between determinism and indeterminism, former is based on metaphysical principle while later is based on philosophical theory.

1.Police officers typically are called upon to exercise discretion when on patrol. Given the chapter’s observations on choice and free will, in what ways or in what situations might the choices of...

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