Policy paper

Running head: POLICY DEVELOPMENT 0

The Policy Development

Author’s Note

Introduction

Social media refers to the utilization of mobile and web-based technologies to transform communication into an interactive discussion or dialogue (Goldsmith, 2015). It takes on various forms such as social bookmarking, rating, video, Internet forums, pictures or photographs, podcasts, wikis, microblogging, social blogs, weblogs, and magazines (Goldsmith, 2015). With the world being in the middle of social media revolution, it is expected that social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace are to be used extensively for communication purposes. This form of communication can either be with an individual or a group of persons (Goldsmith, 2015). One common benefit of social media is online sharing of information and knowledge among various groups of individuals (Goldsmith, 2015). Online sharing of information and knowledge also promotes an enhancement of individuals’ communication skills. However, social media platforms also have some disadvantages, owing to the exposure of individuals’ personal information to identity theft or interference with the privacy of an individual (Goldsmith, 2015).

Over the last decade, social media has emerged to become one of the most widely used tools, in addition to having a widespread presence that touches individuals’ lives, including law enforcement officers (Miller, 2015). Certain rewards and risks face law enforcement officers, as well as their agencies, who utilize social media. Mistakes in the use of social media can endanger the officers’ safety, in addition to compromising criminal cases, hence leading to both embarrassments of law enforcement departments and exposure to criminal and civil liability (Rennison & Dodge, 2015). In order to curb these risks, police departments have to adapt to the social media platforms that have a significant impact on the lives of law enforcement officers on a daily basis. To do so, law enforcement agencies have to understand the different forms of social media platforms that exist, their advantages to law enforcement operations, the challenges they may pose to the department and officers, and the need for establishing an effective criterion to regulate the use of social media by law enforcement officers (Rennison & Dodge, 2015).

Law enforcement organizations’ regulation of social media usage

Owing to the challenges and risks involved in the use of social media platforms by law enforcement officers, law enforcement departments have established ways of regulating the use of social media. Law enforcement officers cannot be generally expected to abstain from maintaining a social presence and participation on the Internet (Rennison & Dodge, 2015). As a result, law enforcement departments have to establish strategies for social media usage that help in balancing the constitutional rights of law enforcement officers while at the same time protecting the integrity of law enforcement agencies and investigations (Rennison & Dodge, 2015). For example, the 2011 ICJE survey revealed that less than 40% of law enforcement agencies had policies on social media usage, and less than 15% facilitated the provision of training to law enforcement officers regarding what is appropriate to post on social media. The two findings call for the need of developing and implementing a comprehensive departmentwide policy on the use of social media as a logical step.

Due to the risks involved in the use of social media by law enforcement officers, law enforcement departments usually regulate the use of social media through departmental policies on appropriate use of social media by officers. The policy is usually sufficiently broad to help in addressing social media usage today as well as in the future (Rennison & Dodge, 2015). Law enforcement agencies always place considerations on the protection of the free speech rights of law enforcement officers who are off-duty and are using their personal computers. However, the policies usually impose strict regulations on officers who choose to disseminate information regarding their work on social media platforms, with such officers having to face scrutiny from their agencies (Rennison & Dodge, 2015).

Law enforcement agencies usually restrict the speech of their officers under certain conditions, including situations where the expressions tend compromise or to interfere with the mission of the agency or result in possible questioning of the professionalism of the agency or officers (Rennison & Dodge, 2015). However, social media policies should provide a clear delineation between the constitutionally protected free expression and the speech that can have a significant impact on law enforcement officers or the police departments (Rennison & Dodge, 2015). Agencies should thus be permitted to regulate the conduct of law enforcement officers on social media platforms only if the officer post content that is related to law enforcement or list law enforcement as his/her occupation. Typical examples of how law enforcement agencies usually regulate the use of social media includes regulation of:

1. Videos or photos of law enforcement officers, weapons, uniforms, equipment, police facilities, evidence, and suspects.

2. Nonpublic or public information about calls for police service, arrests, criminal history, or police reports.

3. Work hours, job assignment, employment, or other related information.

4. Work-related matters or naming officers in microblogs, blogs, or posts.

5. Derogatory images or comments regarding coworkers or supervisors.

6. Harmful images, profanity, and unprofessional language.

7. Personal social media activities with agency resources or while on duty.

Law enforcement agencies’ social media policies usually address the critical purpose for its use and the desired outcomes. They usually define the group or individual authorized for creating and maintaining the social media presence on behalf of the law enforcement department (Rennison & Dodge, 2015). In additional, the policies usually provide guidance on what law enforcement officers can share on social media platforms and when.

Strategies that are usually employed by law enforcement departments to ensure effective implementation of regulations on social media regulations include training law enforcement officers on social media policies. The training usually involves the provision of guidance on a general computer, the use of the Internet, privacy issues and social media security, in addition to looking at the practical application of the policy with regard to the law enforcement officers (Rennison & Dodge, 2015).

Whether law enforcement organizations regulate individual officer’s social media activity

Law enforcement organizations should regulate individual law enforcement officers’ social media activity. Agencies have to understand the challenges that can emerge when personal life and work converge in the social media. Officers usually establish what they wish to be a personal presence in these platforms while identifying themselves as law enforcement officers. Mixing one’s social and personal life with professional ones can result in discredit to both the individual and the department (Rennison & Dodge, 2015).

For example, police officers posting information regarding how sleepy they are while on duty can lead to questioning of the officers’ fitness to perform their duties in the event of a serious traffic accident or deadly force situation. When exposed, unbecoming information can lead to undesirable media attention. Criminals can also capitalize on officers’ private information that has been publicly shared on social media sites (Goldsmith, 2015). For instance, a 2011 arrest in Arizona helped in the discovery of a compact disc containing information of over thirty law enforcement officers as well as law enforcement support workers, all obtained through Facebook.

Conclusion

Law enforcement leaders and administrators have to establish appropriate policies over the use of social media in order to reduce incidents of abuse by law enforcement officers and increase its benefits their agencies. This can be achieved by setting criteria for the use of social media and providing training to personnel on the established policies (Rennison & Dodge, 2015). What to do regarding possible violations of social media policies depends on how clear and precise the rules are, how personnel in similar situations had been handled and whether the speech or post had a low or high degree of constitutional protection.

Goldsmith, A. (2015). Disgracebook policing: social media and the rise of police indiscretion. Policing and society, 249-267.

Miller, R. L. (2015). The Legal Environment Today - Summarized Case Edition: Business in its Ethical, Regulatory, E-Commerce, and Global Setting. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Rennison, C. M., & Dodge, M. (2015). Introduction to criminal justice: systems, diversity, and change. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE.