Wayne G. Case Summary

Words: 624
Pages: 3

When law enforcement officers deal with young offenders, they are often faced with the decision about whether or not to pursue police action or let the offender go with a warning. There are many factors officers consider when making the decision, and must use their judgment in weighing the evidence presented to them. These factors include the seriousness of the offense, prior police contacts, the circumstances of the event, and, many times, the parents’ involvement in the youth’s life. The purpose of this essay is to examine the case of Wayne G. and determine whether or not police action should be taken for his charge of shoplifting.
Case Summary In the presented synopsis, Wayne G. is caught shoplifting a $25 shirt with two male friends (Siegel
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is whether or not police action should be pursued in the boy’s shoplifting. As is often the case in police discretion cases, there are many factors that are examined to decide whether or not a young offender should be placed in the criminal justice system for an offense (Carrington & Schulenberg, 2003). In the presented scenario, there are two significant factors that should influence the decision of law enforcement officers: prior police contacts and parental involvement. First, Wayne G. has had three previous police contacts, including one shoplifting offense of an item of lesser value than the shirt. This may suggest that Wayne G.’s offenses are escalating, and that he is beginning on a path of crime rather than being involved in isolated events that can be expressed as simply youthful indiscretions. However, it should also be noted that these are the only offenses for which Wayne G. has had police contact. His mother indicated that he is frequently in trouble, which suggests that he has participated in behavior and actions that could get him in further trouble, even if he did not have police contact. This means that he may not be as remorseful as he appears to