Law Enforcement in a Market Economy Essay

Total Length: 574 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 3

Page 1 of 2

Executive Summary

Amidst scarce resources and unlimited needs, it is imperative for law enforcement and criminal justice organizations to allocate resources efficiently. The budgeting process must ensure resources are allocated to the most critical or pressing areas (Doss, Guo & Lee, 2012). There are proposals by the state government to cut the police department’s operations budget. If not well thought out, the proposed budget cuts may hinder the organization from realizing its goals and objectives. It is imperative for the state government to be properly aware of the forces that influence the law enforcement market. Cutting the budget at a time when there is increased demand for law enforcement services is not a sensible thing to do. Crime levels in the city have increased significantly in the last few years. This has meant deployment of more police officers, addition of equipment and facilities (e.g. police cars), and even more rigorous training for police officers in an effort to enhance their crime management skills. In fact, the funds the police department currently gets from the state government are barely enough to cover the increased needs. There have also been challenges to do with insufficient personnel and equipment. While cost minimization is crucial for any organization, whether in the private or public sector, this is certainly not the time to cut the budget.
With a reduced budget, the police department will be at a much greater disadvantage in terms of fulfilling its mandate, especially in the wake of increased crime in the city. Increased crime means increased demand for law enforcement personnel or services. The increased demand must be accompanied by a corresponding increase in the supply of law enforcement personnel as well as police equipment and facilities. Without balancing supply and demand, the city will be unable to address the problem of growing crime, which could eventually affect social and economic aspects within the city. Effective law enforcement is indeed a crucial ingredient of socioeconomic prosperity within a community. The need for balanced supply and demand further stems from competition within the police department. The department has several competing needs, including personnel recruitment and training, crime prevention, community policing, personnel wellness, materials and equipment, emergency response, and criminal investigations. All these needs are equally vital in ensuring public safety (Mitchell & Casey, 2007). Each of the needs must be carefully considered in the budget to ensure the limited resources are….....

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Latest APA Format (6th edition)

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"Law Enforcement In A Market Economy" (2017, November 10) Retrieved May 20, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/law-enforcement-market-economy-2166582

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"Law Enforcement In A Market Economy" 10 November 2017. Web.20 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/law-enforcement-market-economy-2166582>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

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"Law Enforcement In A Market Economy", 10 November 2017, Accessed.20 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/law-enforcement-market-economy-2166582