The Role of Law

In this course, we will explore the role of law from a law enforcement perspective. Our laws serve as the written embodiment of society’s ethics and morals. Laws are said to be declarative as well as active; they declare correct behavior and serve as a tool for enforcement. While natural law refers to the belief that some law is inherent in the natural world and can be discovered by reason. Positivist law refers to those laws written and enforced by society. This type of law is of human construction and, therefore, fallible. Early codes of law did not differentiate between what we now distinguish as public wrongs (criminal law) and private wrongs (torts). Criminal law is more closely associated with enforcing the moral standards of society, yet it is by no means comprehensive in its coverage of behavior. Just as important as a tool of behavior control and change, the law provides a blanket of protection for individuals against the power of the state. We cherish our Constitution and the Bill of Rights becau