I am having such a great time with my studies and training.
I borrowed a book from the main library titled Introduction to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice by A.C. Germann, Frank D. Day, and Robert R.J. Gallati(former police chief of New York City).
Here is the basis of the book, in my owns words, upon which all other material within it expands:
"Because criminal justice activities focus upon people, the fundamental question in any study of criminal justice is 'What is the individual?'" (6)
"If a human being is seen as a complex totality unified with the universe, decisions to act and change and move history forward will be seen as in harmony with destiny as an open system onto existence, and with capacity to enter into union with life" (11).
Holding a firm vision of the goals and purpose of humanity will better allow us to "...judge the applicability of this or that law, method, or technique" (11).
The Individual
America is a western culture and the primary belief of western culture, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence and in our Constitution, is that all individuals are expressions or children of a universal creative force called God. It is the purpose of humans to grow into full maturity, to grow into full human personality, for each individual to find his or her own unique greatness, and to constantly learn and evolve as individuals and as a society.
(Remember, this is coming from a textbook about law enforcement and criminal justice.)
The State
In order for the people to walk the path towards their endeavors, they require a safe and free climate to grow; an environment of natural order. There is a factor called crime which disrupts the natural order and is the reason people create a state and its institutions in order to maintain natural order. Just the same, a farmer does not actually grow or create plants and fruits, she learns about the natural unfoldment of plants and assists in the process.
The law enforcement agents of the state are directly involved in the maintenance of order(I wrote "maintenance", not "creation") and prevention of crime.
[End]
It is not important whether this basis for law enforcement and state is practiced and lived in reality, it is more important to realize that this can be a beneficial guiding vision for society; the real and forgotten American Dream.
