It is often hard for law enforcement officials to differentiate between a criminal offender and those to whom that offender is related or with whom he associates. There are very few actual career criminals in this country, and most of them are usually found behind bars. That means that the majority of criminal acts that occur each year in the United States are committed by average people who behaved stupidly at one point or more in their lives. It is important for enforcers to remember that people are human and they make mistakes. Although they may have committed a criminal act at one point in their life, it doesn't mean they will become a career criminal, nor should they have to pay forever for a single infraction of the law (depending upon the severity of the crime).

It isn't just law enforcement officers who are protective of their families—everyone has strong emotional ties to family, and even bad guys feel very strongly about protecting their hearth and home. As a result, they often react violently when they feel the sanctity of their family unit is being violated by law enforcement officials, just as the reverse would be true.

Showing Empathy

Sometimes when a criminal suspect is confronted at home and they react violently, it isn't that they are trying to hide evidence, it is simply a matter of pride. People do not like it when they are made to look bad in front of their families, even criminals. A law enforcement officer is a symbol of respectability and power in most circles, so when the police are acting against someone, witnesses generally believe that the officer is right and the suspect is wrong. Suspects get very defensive when they are confronted this way in front of family members, because they know that just the presence of a police officer can plant doubt in the minds of their loved ones, even if there is no truth to the allegations. Whenever it is prudent to do so, agents should attempt to confront suspects away from the eyes of their families. If it is inevitable that an encounter happens in the presence of family members, providing an avenue for the suspect to maintain their dignity in front of their family will help smooth the process.

Avoid Inflaming the Situation

In addition to suspects and criminals being highly protective of the family unit, there is another side of the coin that needs to be considered. Many family situations tend to be anything but a happy environment. A history of domestic abuse or conflicting opinions on child-rearing can ignite a dispute that exacerbates the situation. While the family members are not being supportive of the offender, neither do their actions assist law enforcement in any way. This can be almost as difficult to deal with as when family members vehemently side with the suspect and actually fight law enforcers who respond to a call against their family member.

Regardless of the particular dynamic at play, law enforcement officers need to remember that suspects are people. In some cases, a positive outcome may boil down to simply allowing the suspect to save face. No matter what the dynamic, separating the criminal's family from the crime is absolutely essential.

Expecting officers to respect the barrier that separates the criminal act from the criminal's home life is no different than asking them to respect the barrier that separates their career from their family. Whenever possible, it is best to conduct interviews or make an arrest on the officer's ground, rather than the suspect's home turf. This not only provides a measure of security for the officer, but a barrier between the suspect and his family as well. The family can learn the details of the accusations against him or her from the suspect, which allows that person to maintain their dignity.