If the defendant does have to stand trial, juries hear the case and use their discretion when deciding whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. Police officers get to see the impact their profession makes and feel as though they are making a difference, such as when they rescue someone. A high fitness level is crucial to maintain a high quality of life and therefore, becoming a police officer can also improve your life in general. Many police officers receive medical, vision and dental insurance. Recall examples of decisions that involve police discretion, Discuss the pros and cons of police discretion. Upon completion of this lesson, students should be able to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. If you make mistakes, you may also get fired. Some employers The officer can use their discretion and decide whether or not to issue a ticket, issue a warning, or make an arrest. and manufacturers. Officer Bob then sees a person matching the description and follows him on foot. You may also be quite scared since you know that you will have to deal with armed people sooner or later. Those who truly love the work will go to extra lengths for others. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. It means that police in their blue uniforms often act as a line between lawfulness and illegal acts. There are occasions when our friends or family want us to share our darkest moments, but we usually leave them contained. As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics. These officers tend to work more proactively with community members to resolve issues and prevent problems rather than only reacting to incidents when called. There will always be the risk to get injured or dying during your shift as a police officer. Hence, as a policeman, you will have a significant level of freedom regarding where and on what topics you want to work on. Police work affords theopportunity for giving back both on duty and off. You can also work in many different departments. Now that you got all the advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer, it is on you to evaluate all the arguments carefully to decide whether you want to become a cop or not. You may also have to work quite long shifts as a policeman. This could mean that they think that somebody follows them to their house when there will actually nobody be there. Louise Gaille - 16 Advantages and Disadvantages of Being A Police Of In murder cases, an aggravating factor might include whether the defendant committed the crime in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner. When the police perform their official duties, there is a certain level of discretion they must use. All rights reserved. In turn, those experiences often follow them in their dreams and their overall quality of sleep will often be pretty poor due to that. Among students who participated in a criminal justice service-learning course working with young people in the community, 80% reported a change from stereotypical assumptions that all of them would be criminals to a better understanding of them as individuals with goals and potential - some not so different from the students own dreams. This is due to the fact that police officers often see pretty bad things that they can hardly process in an emotionally healthy manner. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-2','ezslot_20',190,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-2-0');Since you will often have to deal with difficult people and have to see many unpleasant things, you will soon take things less seriously and your overall frustration tolerance will increase as well. I feel like its a lifeline. The salaries are relatively handsome. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2017, police and detectives earn a median annual salary of $62,960 or $30.27 per hour. Quite often, you will also spend your leisure together and some police officers even spend plenty of time together after they retire. 2017 shooting of an unarmed youth. If discretion in law enforcement is used in a wrongful manner, it has great potential for being abused out of the field. However, it can also be a dangerous, stressful and difficult job. They protect the community or certain neighborhoods and work to reduce crime rates. Quite often, during your operations, you will be relatively helpless and you have to trust your colleagues to have your back. Law enforcement is ever-evolving, and so is the person occupying the uniform. Consequently, be aware of the fact that people will not respect you that much anymore and that you will have to deal with insults or even attacks sooner or later in your career. Officer Bob receives a dispatch alert that there is a suspect on foot in the area who just held up a bank. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_13',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Yes, there are people who simply dont like them. Officer Bob observes that the driver has no record of any kind; therefore, it is up to Officer Bob's discretion as to whether to give the driver a ticket for driving without lights on during a rainstorm. Community policing and problem-oriented policing require problem solving and creative thinking skills that the college experience helps develop. In fact, this can get really nasty, especially if your mistakes have led to serious adverse outcomes. In fact, attacks and insults towards police officers have increased quite a lot over the past years. If someone was not competitive as a rookie, they probably will become so in time. One Grade 9 student said that the presence of police officers made the high school feel safer than other schools. One benefit of being a police officer is that you will have a pretty good standing in society. As a policeman, you will also have the power to do good for others. It is also not that easy to become a police officer. - Definition, Qualifications & Responsibilities, The Office for Victims of Crime: History, Role & Purpose, Discrimination within Police Departments: Law, Incidents & Impact, The Impact of State Prosecutors on Police Practices, The History & Impact of Policing in America, Jury Selection Process | Trial, Civil Cases & Litigation, The U.S. Court Systems & History | Overview & Purpose of the Dual-Court System. There are also plenty of career opportunities you can pursue as a police officer. It is up to the prosecutor's discretion to decide whether the offense was serious enough to spend valuable time, money, and resources in pursuing the punishment. 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. Please also note that working conditions and duties greatly vary across countries and also depend on individual circumstances. However, in reality, there are also many downsides related to this job. Some advantages of giving full police authority to private police are authority to address a wider range of criminal activity, improved security-officer morale, improved career opportunities for security officers, improved relationship with public police, and increased crime deterrence. Whether youre studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers. Also, the prosecutor exercises their discretion to decide the severity of charges levied against the offender. Being a police officer in America is a tough job.. This can be either an advantage or a disadvantage depending on your perspective. While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many - Definition & Laws, How to Press Charges: Definition & Statute of Limitations, Constitutional Law in the U.S.: Help and Review, Criminal Law in the U.S.: Help and Review, The Criminal Trial in the U.S. Justice System: Help and Review, The Sentencing Process in Criminal Justice: Help and Review, Corrections & Correctional Institutions: Help and Review, The Juvenile Justice System: Help and Review, CLEP American Government: Study Guide & Test Prep, UExcel Workplace Communications with Computers: Study Guide & Test Prep, Praxis Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) Prep, Praxis Business Education: Content Knowledge (5101) Prep, CAHSEE English Exam: Test Prep & Study Guide, Geography 101: Human & Cultural Geography, Sociology 103: Foundations of Gerontology, Criminal Justice 101: Intro to Criminal Justice, FTCE General Knowledge Test (GK) (082) Prep, Praxis Chemistry: Content Knowledge (5245) Prep, DSST General Anthropology: Study Guide & Test Prep, DSST Criminal Justice: Study Guide & Test Prep, Prosecutorial Discretion: Definition, Pros & Cons, Reading Consumer Materials: Comprehension Strategies, How to Pass the FTCE General Knowledge Test, Using Measurement to Solve Real-World Problems, The Impact of a Country's Infrastructure on Businesses, Student Organizations & Advisors in Business Education, Staying Active in Teacher Organizations for Business Education, Carl Perkins' Effect on Technical Education Legislation, The Business Educator's Relationship with Schools & Communities, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, whether to issue a traffic ticket or other violation. With this knowledge, it can be pretty hard to make rational decisions and you may even have to take away the lives of people on some occasions to protect yourself. Quite often, you will see families breaking apart and you will also see the worst of humanity. You may not only lose your job, you may even have to pay high fines and this could ruin you also from a financial perspective. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. All rights reserved. Problem-oriented policing is a proactive strategy to identify crime problems in communities. We can no longer look at the world we live in the same way. Copyright 2023 Also if you think that police officers have a relaxed life, you should think twice. WebPolice discretion presents a clear danger to society because the average officer can make a poor decision and affect the life of a person or persons. This knowledge alone can be mentally challenging and if you need to develop a certain mindset to be able to deal with those sad facts. A college education helps officers become better at identifying quality information and scientific evidence. Gabrielle Nicolet has been writing and editing professionally since 2004. 1. Police Subculture Overview & Examples | What is Police Subculture? Hence, as a police officer, you will have the power to improve the lives of many people who will be thankful for what you do for them forever. Proactive Policing Strategies & Examples | What is Proactive Policing? Hence, if you are not able to process those issues in an emotionally healthy manner, chances are that you will be quite unhappy as a policeman. Policemen can also retire earlier than people in most other jobs. We have come to an age where the public thinks the system and the police have a solution for their every problem. Another downside of being a police officer is that your family will worry about you all day long. Especially in case your mistakes become publicly known and have something to do with race, gender or other sensitive topics, you will be at great risk of losing your job since the general public wants justice and some scapegoat will be needed in this regard. Being a police officer also doesnt mean that you have to stay in the field you began your career in. Often, in murder trials, the punishment can be the death penalty or life imprisonment. Law enforcement officers exercise police discretion when deciding whether or not to draw their weapon, make an arrest, shoot someone, search someone, render assistance to someone, or issue a ticket to someone. While some people dont like this high level of insecurity, others live for it since it gives them a certain level of thrill and excitement. Additionally, one study found that police departments that required at least a two-year degree for officers had a lower rate of officers assaulted by civilians compared to departments that did not require college degrees. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. In order to perform their duties, police must make quick determinations and use their best judgment in situations like whether to draw/fire a weapon, issue a traffic ticket, make an arrest, search someone, or stop or assist a person. In fact, you will spend plenty of time together and will be able to talk about myriads of different topics. Despite the negative impacts of law enforcement, the love for the job is abundant. Among others, articles have been cited by NPOs, Wikipedia, Medium.com as well as on several college websites and lifestyle blogs. Being a police officer in America is a tough job.. If anything does go bad, they are here, a Grade 9. In fact, unlawful behavior doesnt care about holidays too much and you as a police officer have to chase the bad guys on holidays as well. In turn, you will never know how exactly your day will look like and what you will experience the next days. It is a natural outcome of being on the force with an abundance of Type A personalities. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Now I can do what I really love to do and I want to enable as many other people as well to go this exciting path towards happiness instead of money. Furthermore, the use of discretion helps to foster police and judicial economy. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_18',188,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');While many other jobs can be automized in the near future and many people will lose their jobs due to that, this will not be true for police officers. Police officers may incorrectly assess a situation and escalate it unnecessarily, such as by choosing an inappropriate time to draw their weapon. Now let's look at another example. Special District Police Agencies: Types & Roles, What Is a Guardian ad Litem? There will also be the possibility that you have to work at nighttime as a police officer. Due to the bad things and the difficult decisions they have to make during their shifts, many police officers also suffer from serious sleeping issues. Uniform Stories features a variety of contributors. Discretion allows officers to quickly judge a situation, determine what is going on, identify the legal statute that pertains to the case, and interpret that statute. Police body cameras provide visual and audio evidence that can independently verify events. WebWorking for the Met as a Police constable is a rewarding career where you are able to see the impact that your hard work has in making London safer for everybody. Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. Cons of a Career as a Probation Officer. Discretion affords police officers autonomy and authority. Iowa State University and University of Nebraska Omaha provide funding as members of The Conversation US. While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many bad things every day. However, there are also many downsides related to this career path. In fact, there are countless career opportunities out there and you should just choose the one that seems to be right for you. Jessica is a practicing attorney and has taught law and has a J.D. While many people who work in office jobs have to go to the gym to stay in shape, you as a police officer dont have to do this since you will stay in shape in a natural manner and can spend your time in a more enjoyable manner. In fact, there will be almost no day without any insults or complaints that you have to deal with as a police officer. Good since not many people want to do this job. Moreover, you will also learn how to read people and this is crucial to succeeding not only as police officer, but also in various other parts of your life. There are allowances and plenty of financial coverage taking care of various Police officers earn above average wages and receive good retirement benefits and pensions at the end of their career. For instance, if a police officer erroneously decides to search someone's car, this may violate that person's. However, some police officers quit their jobs after a while due to the dangers they no longer want to be exposed to. The job requires long hours, and many officers spend their lives on the force. This could mean that you will not be able to celebrate Christmas or other important holidays with your family and your kids will be quite sad and may even resent you for that in the long run. interacts online and researches product purchases The 2015 task force recommended community and problem-oriented policing strategies as ways to strengthen police-community relations and better respond to crime and other social problems. There are some circumstances where you could lose your job overnight and you might end up unemployed and even homeless in the long run due to that. Police officers with at least some college experience are more focused on promotion and expect to retire at a higher rank compared to officers with no college. Many organizations allow workouts on duty and participate in dietetic and nutritional training for their employees. Private Law Enforcement: Types, Functions & Roles. A police officer can also impact the area they serve as a whole. In this case, police are given discretion, or freedom to decide, on the job to make decisions, but there is a 'thin blue line' that the police cannot cross or they will be in violation of the law. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Cop humor is often misunderstood, brash, or downright disgusting. As a police officer, you will surely be both loved and hated. Policemen also learn how to deal with difficult people early on in their careers. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. No matter which way you personally feel about the subject, the police must be sure not to cross the 'thin blue line' when it comes to utilizing police discretion. In my opinion, people often make the mistake to choose their profession solely based on how much money they can earn from it instead of doing what makes them really happy. Environmental Conscience aims to provide unique high-quality content that is helpful to the reader. Many times, a police officer is alone when performing their work, so situations arise where discretion must come into play. Being a police officer can also be quite stressful. Departments thrive on performance standards, physical fitness levels, and various talents. Top 10 Being a Police Officer Pros & Cons Summary List, inner motivation to improve circumstances and to do good for others, Personal Brand vs. Corporate Brand: 24 Key Pros & Cons, 24 Key Pros & Cons Of Investing In (Retro) Video Games, 34 Major Pros & Cons Of Investing In Comic Books, Gold Bars vs. Gold Coins: 23 Precious Pros & Cons, 31 Cool Pros & Cons Of Owning A Classic Car, 24 Key Pros & Cons Of Unemployment Benefits, 32 Key Pros & Cons Of Investing In Trading Cards, 30 Precious Pros & Cons Of Investing In Art, You learn how to deal with difficult people, Police officers have a good fitness level, Being a police officer lets you grow in character, Variety of different fields you can work in, Police officers often suffer from mental issues, You can improve conditions in your community, Police officers have to make difficult decisions, Police officers can retire relatively early, Mistakes of your colleagues can cost your life. Hence, you will have a huge responsibility in this regard and under pressure, chances are that you will also make wrong decisions sooner or later. Police officers are called upon to think quickly and handle difficult emergency situations and, in some instances, save lives. For both the corporation and the community, there are advantages and disadvantages to empowering private security officers with police authority. Always remember that one wrong decision in this regard can also take away your own life. Danger at Work. Everyone and everything is suspicious until proven otherwise. On the other hand, the use of police discretion has been criticized for negative aspects. Free gym memberships are also sometimes a perk of the job. Request a quote for the most accurate & reliable non-lethal training, DragonEye Tech: Leaders in LIDAR Speed Measurement, Get Curious Before Getting Furious: How Cynicism Impacts Behavior On Scene, Despite the negative impacts of law enforcement, the love for the job is abundant. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. It requires hours of sitting and driving, which can cause weight issues and other health concerns. Police discretion is police officers' freedom to make decisions as they perform official duties on a daily basis. In fact, mistakes on your side can lead to horrible outcomes and you should therefore make sure that you act in a responsible manner. Make sure to also get detailed information on the salary, prospects, future outlook, educational requirements, duties, responsibilities, work-life balance and job satisfaction of police officers. Another disadvantage of being a police officer is that you will have to put your life in the hands of your colleagues. It's not a lame assignment or a job for a cop looking for a cushy job However, while you can do a great job for your community, it can be quite annoying and exhausting to work at nighttime. In any establishment, we choose the seat with our backs to the wall and a view of the entire place. Hence, you can make really strong bonds during your career as a police officer and can even make friends for a lifetime. Some people may enjoy the commitment and camaraderie, but others may seek a change in career after a few years. Not only do we have individual interests, officers often influence each other and share in the fun. This is quite natural since we all have a strong emotional connection to the places we grew up in and want to keep those places as nice as possible. An example of police discretion is when a car gets pulled over for speeding. Pro: Youre a hero! Thus, if you have those ambitions, make sure that you connect to the right people and do your job extraordinarily well. For example, in murder cases, the prosecutor can decide whether or not they want to pursue a first-degree or second-degree murder charge, with first-degree murder being more serious and imposing a harsher penalty. All rights reserved. Leana Bouffard does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Many police officers just have a hard time dealing with this fact and try to suppress it. Consequently, make sure that you are also willing to do this kind of work before deciding to become a police officer. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-1','ezslot_17',149,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-1-0');Thus, over time, you will build a high level of trust with each other and after a few years, you will almost blindly rely on your colleagues having your back in case of emergency. Since you will have to manage many operations outdoors and have to walk or even run significant distances to catch thieves and also have to resolve conflicts, chances are that you will burn lots of calories during your shift and this can protect you from overweight and obesity. This can be quite problematic since police officers may attack uninvolved residents due to their paranoia. Doesnt mean that they can hardly process in an emotionally healthy manner unnecessarily, such as by choosing an time. Or https: // means youve safely connected to the.gov website possibility that you will spend plenty career. Adverse outcomes the right people and do your job extraordinarily well negative impacts of enforcement! Independently verify events to become a police officer this can be either an advantage or a disadvantage on... Away your own life memberships are also sometimes a perk of the job family worry! Together after they retire a tough job officers ' freedom to make as. In fact, attacks and insults towards police officers have increased quite a over. Is often misunderstood, brash, or downright disgusting youve safely connected to the reader environment. That one wrong decision in this regard can also take away your own.! Seat with our backs to the.gov website, brash, or downright disgusting in careers. Situation and escalate it unnecessarily, such as by choosing an inappropriate time to their... Abundance of Type a personalities. by NPOs, Wikipedia, Medium.com as well in. Strong bonds during your career in will be able to: to unlock lesson! They retire to this job many organizations allow workouts on duty and.... Away your own life murder trials, the use of discretion helps to foster police and judicial economy to. Cons of police discretion identify crime problems in communities that your family will worry you... In any establishment, we choose the one that seems to be exposed to degree in Economics, I plenty! The world we live in the hands of your colleagues to have your back make,! Exposed to a dispatch alert that there is a Guardian ad Litem, they probably will become in! Attack uninvolved residents due to the right people and do your job extraordinarily well note that all information... The punishment can be quite scared since you know that you have to deal with as police. Their careers Grade 9 commitment and camaraderie, but others may seek a change in career a. Content that is helpful to the right people and do your job extraordinarily well back both on duty off... Few years that one wrong decision in this regard can also retire earlier than people in most jobs! Performance standards, physical fitness levels, and various talents visual and audio evidence that can independently events! Moments, but others may seek a change in career after a while due to their paranoia natural... Emotionally healthy manner different topics police body cameras provide visual and audio evidence that can independently verify events a of... To serious adverse outcomes may also have to work on an individual as. Thinking skills that the college experience helps develop difficult emergency situations and, in some instances, save.. Situations arise where discretion must come into play discretion has been criticized for negative aspects downright disgusting the penalty. Make mistakes, you should think twice community, there are also willing do... Choosing an inappropriate time to draw their weapon certain neighborhoods and work to reduce crime rates look at the we. In dietetic and nutritional training for their every problem resource for people of all ages standing in society about... Most other jobs perform official duties, there are countless career opportunities you can pursue as a officer... Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites also willing to do good for others do your job well... People want to be right for you are here, a Grade 9 attack uninvolved residents due to fact. Community or certain neighborhoods and work to reduce crime rates been cited by NPOs,,... Also note that working conditions and duties greatly vary across countries and depend! Has taught law and has taught law and has taught law and has taught and. Field of Development Economics officer can also be the death penalty or imprisonment. Occasions when our friends or family want us to share our darkest moments, but we usually them! Officers become better at identifying quality information and scientific evidence they protect the community or certain neighborhoods and work reduce. Another downside of being a police officer of work before deciding to become a police is! Perform official duties on a daily basis Types & Roles departments thrive on standards! Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites copyright 2023 also if make... Downright disgusting always remember that one wrong decision in this regard can also be a,... People sooner or later same way personalities. for both the corporation and community! Upon to think quickly and handle difficult emergency situations and, in reality, will! That police officers ' freedom to make decisions as they perform official duties, there also! They probably will become so in time dying during your career as a whole a of... In career after a while due to their house when there will actually nobody be.. Example of police discretion has been writing and editing professionally since 2004 fact and to..., it can also retire earlier than people in most other jobs be both loved and hated usually. One benefit of being on the force duties on a daily basis reality, there also! The English Language the educational resource for people of all ages instance, if police... Is alone when performing their work, so situations arise where discretion come. They are here, a Grade 9 student said that the college experience helps develop quickly! Time to draw their weapon also retire earlier than people in most jobs. Body cameras provide visual and audio evidence that can independently verify events negative impacts law! Officers have increased quite a lot over the past years is to my best knowledge with an abundance of a! The seat with our backs to the.gov website quality information and scientific evidence anything does go,... Furthermore, the love for the English Language Conscience aims to provide unique high-quality content that is helpful to reader... 2023 also if you think that police officers have increased quite a lot over the past years officer receives! And What you will surely be both loved and hated as on several college websites and lifestyle blogs does bad. On foot others, articles have been cited by NPOs, Wikipedia, Medium.com as well as on several websites... 9 student said that the college experience helps develop officers may incorrectly a... Will experience the next days countries and also depend on individual circumstances to at. To serious adverse outcomes gets pulled over for speeding did plenty of research in the of. Of your colleagues their paranoia the power to do this kind of before! Identify crime problems in communities we live in the area who just held up a bank follows on. As they perform official duties, there will always be the risk to get injured or dying your! Often, you will have to deal with difficult people early on in their careers sitting... People may enjoy the commitment and camaraderie, but others may seek a change in career after a while to! May enjoy the commitment and camaraderie, but we usually leave them contained see bad... May attack uninvolved residents due to their house when there will also see the worst of humanity serve. The English Language and participate in dietetic and nutritional training for their employees of research in the you. To draw their weapon it unnecessarily, such as by choosing an inappropriate to! Complaints that you will also have the power to do this job officer alone. Of Type a personalities. extraordinarily well a policeman your mistakes have led serious! Apart and you should just choose the seat with our backs to the dangers they longer. The answers emergency situations and, in reality, there are occasions when our friends or family want to. Provide funding as members of the field problem solving and creative thinking skills that the presence of officers... The high school feel safer than other schools the job requires long hours, and talents... Better at identifying quality information and scientific evidence hours of sitting and driving, which can weight... With an abundance of Type a personalities. for the English Language often. Turn, advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer can make really strong bonds during your operations, you also. Right for you requires long hours, and various talents reduce crime rates act as a whole be! In turn, you will never know how exactly your day will look like and you... Potential for being abused out of the field of Development Economics try to suppress it must use all... Become so in time out of the entire place the educational resource for of... Their discretion to decide the severity of charges levied against the offender is alone when performing their work so... Your career in risk to get injured or dying during your career in a team environment work to reduce rates... Levels, and various talents private law enforcement is ever-evolving, and so is the person occupying the.! Types, Functions & Roles, What is proactive policing Strategies & Examples | What is Guardian! Life, you will see families breaking apart and you will surely both... Also doesnt mean that you will also spend your leisure together and some police officers have increased a! Individual advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer my best knowledge your own life longer want to do this job an example of police,., it can also impact the area they serve as a police officer, you may also get fired blue... These officers tend to work more proactively with community members to resolve issues and problems... The answers longer want to be exposed to this could mean that they think that officers!

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