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{{short description|Enforcement of the law by some members of society}}
[[File:5.29.10NYPDByLuigiNovi6.jpg|thumbnail|[[New York City Police Department]]
'''Law enforcement''' is the activity of some members of [[government]] who act in an organized manner to enforce the [[law]] by [[Criminal investigation|discovering]], [[Deterrence (penology)|deterring]], [[rehabilitation (penology)|rehabilitating]], or [[punishment|punishing]] people who violate the [[Rule of law|rules]] and [[norm (social)|norm]]s governing that society.<ref>New Law Journal - Volume 123, Part 1 - Page 358, 1974</ref> The term encompasses [[police]], [[Court|courts]], and [[corrections]]. These three components may operate independently of each other or [[Criminal justice|collectively]], through the use of [[Criminal record|record]] sharing and mutual cooperation. ▼
▲'''Law enforcement''' is the activity of some members of
The concept of law enforcement dates back to ancient times, and forms of law enforcement and police have existed in various forms across many human societies. Modern state legal codes use the term [[law enforcement officer]] or peace officer to include every person vested by the legislating state with police power or authority; traditionally, anyone sworn or badged, who can arrest any person for a violation of criminal law, is included under the umbrella term of law enforcement.▼
▲The concept of law enforcement dates back to ancient times, and forms of law enforcement and police have existed in various forms across many human societies. Modern state legal codes use the term
Although law enforcement may be most concerned with the prevention and punishment of [[crime]]s, organizations exist to discourage a wide variety of non-criminal violations of rules and norms, effected through the imposition of less severe consequences such as [[probation]].▼
▲Although law enforcement may be most concerned with the prevention and punishment of
== History ==
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[[File:TorontoPolice19thCentury.jpg|thumb|[[Toronto Police Service]] officers in 1883|248x248px]]
Law enforcement organizations existed in ancient times, such as prefects in [[History of China|ancient China]], ''paqūdus'' in [[Babylonia]], ''curaca'' in the [[Inca Empire]], ''[[vigiles]]'' in the [[Roman Empire]], and [[Medjay]] in [[ancient Egypt]]. Who law enforcers were and reported to depended on the civilization and often changed over time, but they were typically [[Slavery|
By the [[Post-classical history|post-classical period]] and the [[Middle Ages]], forces such as the [[Santa Hermandad|Santa Hermandades]], the [[Shurta|s''hurta'']], and the ''[[Maréchaussée]]'' provided services ranging from law enforcement and personal protection to customs enforcement and waste collection. In [[England]], a complex law enforcement system emerged, where [[Tithing|tithings]], groups of ten families, were responsible for ensuring good behavior and apprehending criminals; groups of ten tithings ("hundreds") were overseen by a [[Reeve (England)|reeve]]; hundreds were governed by administrative divisions known as [[Shire|shires]]; and shires were overseen by [[Sheriff|shire-reeves]]. In [[History of Japan|feudal Japan]], [[samurai]] were responsible for enforcing laws.
The concept of police as the primary law enforcement organization originated in Europe in the [[early modern period]]; the first statutory police force was the [[High Constables of Edinburgh]] in 1611, while the first organized police force was the [[Paris]] ''lieutenant général de police'' in 1667. Until the 18th century, law enforcement in England was mostly the responsibility of private citizens and [[Thief-taker|thief-takers]], albeit also including constables and watchmen
Following [[European colonization of the Americas]], the first law enforcement agencies in the [[Thirteen Colonies]] were the [[New York City Sheriff's Office|New York Sheriff's Office]] and the [[Albany County, New York#Law enforcement|Albany County Sheriff's Department]], both formed in the 1660s in the [[Province of New York]]. The [[Province of Carolina]] established slave-catcher patrols in the 1700s, and by 1785, the [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]] Guard and Watch was reported to have the duties and organization of a modern police force. The first [[
== Law enforcement agencies ==
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[[File:2009-04-06 Scotts Valley Chase 07.jpg|thumb|Municipal police officers, county sheriff's deputies, and state highway patrol officers at the scene of a [[Car chase|pursuit]] termination in [[Scotts Valley, California]]]]
Most law enforcement is conducted by some
Law enforcement agencies are limited to operating within a specified [[jurisdiction]]. These are typically organized
Various segments of society may have their own [[specialist law enforcement agency]], such as the [[military]] having [[military police]], [[school]]s having [[School resource officer|school police]] or [[campus police]], or [[Airport|airports]] having [[airport police]]. [[Private police]] may exist in some jurisdictions, often to provide dedicated law enforcement for privately-owned property or infrastructure, such as [[railroad police]] for [[private railway]]s or hospital police for privately-owned [[hospital]] campuses.
[[File:Zurich police riot control.jpg|thumb|[[Riot police]] in Zurich]]
Depending on
==See also==
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