Enforcer
An enforcer (also called a law enforcement officer or peace officer) is a specialist profession involved in law enforcement. Enforcers are charged by the state with ensuring the law is followed, as well as discovering and punishing (or rehabilitating) those that break it. Depending on the society in question, enforcers are granted vastly different powers and levels of authority.
Historically, enforcers have worked through official and non-official means to protect and serve societies and governments. Some regional enforcer agencies on Tzynnia can trace their ancestry back over three thousand years, to slave catchers who apprehended runaway slaves for local nobles. Modern law enforcement is a much more recent development, usually having come into existence within the last five hundred years. These early organisations were established by governments with standardised equipment and training in order to perform many of the functions enforcers serve today - including the investigation of crimes, rather than simply dissuading and punishing them.
Enforcers are typically organised as either civilian or military forces. In some states, like the United Nations of Earth, military forces are entirely prohibited from acting as law enforcement, so enforcers are entirely civilian. In others, like the Kel-Azaan Republic, all enforcers are considered part of the military, functioning as gendarmerie. Most states are somewhere in the middle, with both military and civilian enforcers. In addition to law enforcement officers, the term 'enforcer' usually includes detectives and investigators who investigate crimes, as well as judicial systems of judges and lawyers who prosecute them.
While most enforcers are volunteers or professionals, in some cases they may be conscripts or even slaves. Battle thralls, trained from birth for loyalty to the state, are often trusted enough to act as enforcers, even without supervision by non-enslaved individuals.
The most visible role of enforcers is that of deterrence. Enforcers are posted in highly visible public locations in order to deter crime, as well as quickly respond to any offences that take place. They also act as guards for public (and sometimes private) locations. When a crime has occurred, enforcers respond to it, investigate, and ideally apprehend the perpetrator. Once a perpetrator is in custody, they are usually tried and sentenced by a judge or jury (some states do not use one or both of those). In most cases, separate enforcers will handle each role in that chain, but in some, a single enforcer will act as investigator, judge, and punisher all in one. In extreme cases, enforcers may be required to assist military forces in repelling a planetary invasion.
Aside from direct law enforcement duties, enforcers ideally take time to establish trust and rapport with communities. Some states establish special public trust officer units in order to specifically foster this cooperation with the public. On colonies, enforcer forces are typically established some time after their establishment. They take over from the initial colonists in matters related to fauna control and protecting outlying settlements. In many cases, enforcers are also tasked with responding to natural disasters and search and rescue efforts. Occasionally, they also work alongside military personnel for counter-terrorism or counter-insurgency duties. Such duties are typically handled by dedicated enforcer units.
Historically, enforcers have worked through official and non-official means to protect and serve societies and governments. Some regional enforcer agencies on Tzynnia can trace their ancestry back over three thousand years, to slave catchers who apprehended runaway slaves for local nobles. Modern law enforcement is a much more recent development, usually having come into existence within the last five hundred years. These early organisations were established by governments with standardised equipment and training in order to perform many of the functions enforcers serve today - including the investigation of crimes, rather than simply dissuading and punishing them.
Enforcers are typically organised as either civilian or military forces. In some states, like the United Nations of Earth, military forces are entirely prohibited from acting as law enforcement, so enforcers are entirely civilian. In others, like the Kel-Azaan Republic, all enforcers are considered part of the military, functioning as gendarmerie. Most states are somewhere in the middle, with both military and civilian enforcers. In addition to law enforcement officers, the term 'enforcer' usually includes detectives and investigators who investigate crimes, as well as judicial systems of judges and lawyers who prosecute them.
While most enforcers are volunteers or professionals, in some cases they may be conscripts or even slaves. Battle thralls, trained from birth for loyalty to the state, are often trusted enough to act as enforcers, even without supervision by non-enslaved individuals.
The most visible role of enforcers is that of deterrence. Enforcers are posted in highly visible public locations in order to deter crime, as well as quickly respond to any offences that take place. They also act as guards for public (and sometimes private) locations. When a crime has occurred, enforcers respond to it, investigate, and ideally apprehend the perpetrator. Once a perpetrator is in custody, they are usually tried and sentenced by a judge or jury (some states do not use one or both of those). In most cases, separate enforcers will handle each role in that chain, but in some, a single enforcer will act as investigator, judge, and punisher all in one. In extreme cases, enforcers may be required to assist military forces in repelling a planetary invasion.
Aside from direct law enforcement duties, enforcers ideally take time to establish trust and rapport with communities. Some states establish special public trust officer units in order to specifically foster this cooperation with the public. On colonies, enforcer forces are typically established some time after their establishment. They take over from the initial colonists in matters related to fauna control and protecting outlying settlements. In many cases, enforcers are also tasked with responding to natural disasters and search and rescue efforts. Occasionally, they also work alongside military personnel for counter-terrorism or counter-insurgency duties. Such duties are typically handled by dedicated enforcer units.
Type
Government
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