Factors Affecting the Exercise of Police Discretion as Perceived by the Sorsogon City Police

Abstract

Police as leaders hold a critical role and should stand firm and dignified. The main objective of this research work is to highlight factors that could influence the exercise of police discretion, as perceived by the Sorsogon City Police. This research work utilized the use of descriptive-correlation design, utilizing questionnaires as the means to identify the possible factors; twenty-two questionnaires were used and retrieved. Among the factors that got a high score for conducting an arrest is the location of the Place of the suspect to be arrested, with an average weighted mean of 3.32. As to the factor affecting police discretion based on case investigation, lack of interest on the part of the complainant scored high with a WAM of 3.0. While some factors scored low, this research work has concluded that (1) the length of service and rank of police offers can affect the exercise of police discretion. (2) some factors affect the exercise of police discretion as perceived by Sorsogon City police but then assured that their discretion is not clouded or influenced by other stated factors such as partisanship. (3) lack of human resources is still a prevailing factor in the impediment of police work.