Would you support giving private security companies powers of arrest?

[Dissipate]

What I cannot understand is why there isn't any movement in this country towards giving private security companies the powers of arrest and indefinate detainment (i.e. completely privatized prisons). A lot of people greatly dislike cops and how they abuse their power. Hence, instead of just calling them pigs we should force them to compete. Perhaps competition in arrest and detainment will do for the criminal justice industry what FedEx and UPS has done to the package delivery industry.

Here is a scenario. Someone goes to a mall and is caught shoplifting. Instead of calling the cops who probably couldn't care less, the mall calls their private security company and hauls the perpetrator to a jail cell that is actually at the mall. The mall detains them for a few days as punishment and releases them.

 

[smack Down]

no.

 

[Meuge]

no

 

[ntdz]

HELL no.

 

[Dissipate]

I guess there aren't any serious detractors of the police state here.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Are you kidding me?

"Hi. I'm a security guard. You're under arrest." "Wh-what?" "STFU *whap*"

Try fighting THAT one in court.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Dissipate
I guess there aren't any serious detractors of the police state here.

Nope to both of your posts (this one and the OP)!

 

[dahunan]

maybe you can hire BlackWater USA to take care of things here in the USA too.. they are paid to torture and shoot Iraqis

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Are you kidding me?

"Hi. I'm a security guard. You're under arrest." "Wh-what?" "STFU *whap*"

Try fighting THAT one in court.

Oh yeah, I'm sure it would go down like that. :roll:

Private security companies are already allowed to have their agents carry guns openly. I don't see what the big deal is to give them the powers of arrest and detainment as well.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: ntdz
HELL no.

Something we can agree on. HELL no!

 

[Pyrokinetic]

Uhh.. not the way you put it because subjects are detained for inquiry or for trial. The shoplifter scenario you propose uses detainment as punishment which bypasses the 'innocent until proven guilty' thing and a fair trial.

What I would like to see is for newspapers to print names and photos of people who are convicted of shoplifting or other misdemeanors. This would add social disapproval to the determent factor. Your neighbors would know if you've been a dumbsh-t.

Another FYI: I live near a state university and the city where the university is located gave the approval for university police to pursue criminals and book them at the city police station without having to call a city police officer as an intermediary. The university cops have as much power and authority as the 'real' cops.

 

[smack Down]

Originally posted by: Pyrokinetic
Uhh.. not the way you put it because subjects are detained for inquiry or for trial. The shoplifter scenario you propose uses detainment as punishment which bypasses the 'innocent until proven guilty' thing and a fair trial.

What I would like to see is for newspapers to print names and photos of people who are convicted of shoplifting or other misdemeanors. This would add social disapproval to the determent factor. Your neighbors would know if you've been a dumbsh-t.

Another FYI: I live near a state university and the city where the university is located gave the approval for university police to pursue criminals and book them at the city police station without having to call a city police officer as an intermediary. The university cops have as much power and authority as the 'real' cops.

That is because it is a state university. If it was a private college then the rent-a-cops can't have such powers.

 

[HombrePequeno]

I'm gonna have to say no to that. It leaves too much open for abuse. Companies can selectively enforce the law.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: HombrePequeno
I'm gonna have to say no to that. It leaves too much open for abuse. Companies can selectively enforce the law.

The government selectively enforces the law as well.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: smack Down

Originally posted by: Pyrokinetic
Uhh.. not the way you put it because subjects are detained for inquiry or for trial. The shoplifter scenario you propose uses detainment as punishment which bypasses the 'innocent until proven guilty' thing and a fair trial.

What I would like to see is for newspapers to print names and photos of people who are convicted of shoplifting or other misdemeanors. This would add social disapproval to the determent factor. Your neighbors would know if you've been a dumbsh-t.

Another FYI: I live near a state university and the city where the university is located gave the approval for university police to pursue criminals and book them at the city police station without having to call a city police officer as an intermediary. The university cops have as much power and authority as the 'real' cops.

That is because it is a state university. If it was a private college then the rent-a-cops can't have such powers.

Yep, that's the way it works in Iowa, at least. University Police are state employees, subject to the same requirements as any other law enforcement officer. Same thing with the "Capitol Police" who protect the State office facilities.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Are you kidding me?

"Hi. I'm a security guard. You're under arrest." "Wh-what?" "STFU *whap*"

Try fighting THAT one in court.

Oh yeah, I'm sure it would go down like that. :roll:

Private security companies are already allowed to have their agents carry guns openly. I don't see what the big deal is to give them the powers of arrest and detainment as well.

And they have limited arrest powers. But that is where it should end. Subdue the perp, call the cops to come pick him up. A totally privatized system from guard to court (assuming the company hasn't had to layoff all their judges) to jail is a BAD idea.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Originally posted by: ntdz
HELL no.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Dissipate
Here is a scenario. Someone goes to a mall and is caught shoplifting. Instead of calling the cops who probably couldn't care less, the mall calls their private security company and hauls the perpetrator to a jail cell that is actually at the mall. The mall detains them for a few days as punishment and releases them.

That's called "kidnapping".

 

[HombrePequeno]

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: HombrePequeno
I'm gonna have to say no to that. It leaves too much open for abuse. Companies can selectively enforce the law.

The government selectively enforces the law as well.

Well I can't really argue that. The government is allowed to get away with things that are illegal in the private industry.

 

[dmcowen674]

Police State Police State Police State, we all want a Police State.

 

[GoPackGo]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Dissipate
Here is a scenario. Someone goes to a mall and is caught shoplifting. Instead of calling the cops who probably couldn't care less, the mall calls their private security company and hauls the perpetrator to a jail cell that is actually at the mall. The mall detains them for a few days as punishment and releases them.

That's called "kidnapping".

Actually the mall security isn't enforcing the law.

They are enforcing company policy....rules subject to change.

 

[Hecubus2000]

Originally posted by: dahunan
maybe you can hire BlackWater USA to take care of things here in the USA too.. they are paid to torture and shoot Iraqis

:roll: Are you serious? Must be nice to just make things up and pass them along as facts. You should run for office with stories like that. I bet you would give George a run for his money.

 

[CitizenKain]

Originally posted by: Dissipate
I guess there aren't any serious detractors of the police state here.

How is your solution any better then a police state? Do you really want companies competing on who can arrest the most people? Who handles disputes between these separate companies?
Here is a good reason why you don't let companies do this. You don't want to have people who make money from enforcing the law the same people who make money from imprisoning people. Suddenly, everything is against the law and if you can't pay the fine, then its off to prision, where you work for free until your sentence is completed.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Hecubus2000

Originally posted by: dahunan
maybe you can hire BlackWater USA to take care of things here in the USA too.. they are paid to torture and shoot Iraqis

:roll: Are you serious? Must be nice to just make things up and pass them along as facts. You should run for office with stories like that. I bet you would give George a run for his money.

I'm glad that I wasn't the only one to catch this lie. Besides, blackwater employees are to valuable to hire for mall security.

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: Hecubus2000

Originally posted by: dahunan
maybe you can hire BlackWater USA to take care of things here in the USA too.. they are paid to torture and shoot Iraqis

:roll: Are you serious? Must be nice to just make things up and pass them along as facts. You should run for office with stories like that. I bet you would give George a run for his money.

I'm glad that I wasn't the only one to catch this lie. Besides, blackwater employees are to valuable to hire for mall security.

Just because you haven't heard about it, doesn't make it a lie, boys.