Introduction
Law enforcement deals with upholding given laws in a particular state under given jurisdiction. The people dealing with law enforcement are specific professionals with the aim of enforcing national laws, managing law breakers by punishing the accordingly and depending on the magnitude of law disobedience. Law enforcement can be divided into two categories depending on the goal aimed to achieve; first being a preventive measure, by the professionals, that seek to prevent any damage that might be translated to another person in the society whereas the second seeks to put the criminals on trial and assign punishments depending on the nature of the crime (Cronkhite, C. L., 2012. p. 141).
However, over the years, law enforcement has faced several challenges that renders it difficult for the professionals to carry out their duties as expected. Some of these problems areas discussed below.
Ineffective Communication
Gunderson, D. F., in his book Communication and Law Enforcement, he explains that enforcement is one crucial field that entirely deals with human nature, but it is a field that poses danger and challenges unlike other human related fields. In his book, he explains communication as the key concept that a law officer should have no matter how intelligent or skillful the officer is. However, not all enforcing officers have this aspect, thus, ending up at loggerheads with the citizens and eventually build hatred between the two parties. This will serve as a barrier to law enforcement, in that, the citizens will always translate laws different from what is expected of them. Poor communication always act as a barrier in any field dealing with human, despite the fact that it does not solve all problems but few problems are solved with adequate communication (Gunderson, D. F.,).
Administrative Failures
Training failures and policy failures are administrative problems facing law enforcement, which its impacts fall directly on the officers. Notably, once an officer fails in his/her duty, there will be a direct and quick follow up of taking disciplinary action. However, failure in the enforcement sector takes a longer time than when an officer, knowingly or unknowingly, commits an offence. Often, the officers practice within the laws and powers given to them. The command that they follow is depends on the policies they were initially introduced to and the training they underwent. The reluctant level of the superior in implementing effective policies and training conditions that will make the law enforcement officers effective serves as a barrier to adequately enforcing the law within a given jurisdiction.
Lack of follow-ups in lawsuits that citizens present to the law enforcement officers pertaining the officers themselves undermines the right of citizens and uphold what is wrong of the officers. This comes in handy with the quality of training and deficiency in policies pertaining such cases. This is a challenge as well as a barrier to effective law enforcement.
Drug Enforcement
Fight against drug has been the greatest challenge in the 21st century. Today, drug cartels have been formed, which is an illegal activity. Drugs involvement of people has led to million killed, many addicts and illegal practices. Still, there are no effective incentives that have been put across to curb the problem of drugs. With this, law enforcement officers are placed forward in fighting this problem although it cannot be achieved with them as a separate body but with involvement of the society at large. Public expectation of only officers dealing with this problem is of no importance in fighting drugs, which has proved to be almost impossible (Delord, R., B., 2008. pg., 598-599).
With time, law enforcement officers liaise with the drug cartels and ironically uphold crime. This serves as challenge and barrier to justice, with the leaders choosing to suppress the law for the sake of their own.
Risk Management
This involves effectively use of resources to ensure that any risks surrounding the law enforcement process is highly covered, and the chances of its happening are minimal if not none. Proper risk management implies effective and efficient law enforcement practices. Risk management involves practices such as; accountability, safety and security policies, discipline management and effective, adequate leadership. This serves as a rap to entire law enforcing organization. Arguably, this practices have been on the minimum, in that, only a few upheld such required practices while a larger part of the enforcement team undermines it. With this, poor leadership traits, lack of accounting for the activities done such as looting, mishandling of citizens and misunderstanding problems are such but a few that undermines enforcement practices. It is worth noting that these practices uphold good morals, and some of the officers lack which has become a common trend and result in them putting their interest first before any citizen.
Corruption, self-centered, poor leadership and dictatorship characterizes such officers which in the long run undermines the law enforcement activities.
Conclusion
Thus, law enforcing is a crucial department in any state that needs to be treated with the keen and morals it deserves. Complaints arising due to poor and inadequate conduction of activities by the officers proves its inefficiency and measures should be put to solve this problem. For any state to achieve stability; social, economic and political, policies should be put forth that will ensure people work within its limits. In terms of officers efficiency, proper leadership skills, appropriate training skills, realistic and efficient policies, quick disciplinary measures to non-abiding superiors, officers and citizens should be the sole aim and proper risk management measures should be put to ensure that everyone is law abiding. This way, any outside challenges, posing a danger to law enforcement will be solved easily.
References
Cronkhite, C. L. (2012). Law Enforcement and Justice Administration: Strategies for the 21st
Century. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Delord, R., Burpo, J., & Shannon, M. R. (2008). Police Union Power, Politics, and
Confrontation in the 21st Century: New Challenges, New Issues. Springfield: Charles C Thomas Publisher, LTD.
Gundersen, D. F., & Hopper, R. (1988). Communication and law enforcement. Lanham, MD:
