A police officer is witness to a disturbance.She assesses the situation and determines that there are no reasonable grounds to lay a charge.What has she exercised?
A) discretion
B) optional processing
C) reasonable suspicion
D) probable cause

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The police officer has exercised discretion, which refers to the decision-making power that law enforcement officials have in determining whether or not to take action in a given situation. In this case, the officer has assessed the situation and determined that there are no reasonable grounds to lay a charge, indicating that she has used her discretion to make this decision. Optional processing (B) is not relevant in this context, as it refers to the discretion that prosecutors have in deciding how to proceed with a case once charges have been laid. Reasonable suspicion (C) and probable cause (D) are not relevant either, as they pertain to the level of suspicion or evidence required for police to stop, search, or make an arrest, which are not relevant in this scenario.

A Police Officer Is Witness to a Disturbance