Criminal Justice Management

Criminal Justice Management

Questions: 1

Senior leaders are responsible for creating a climate that motivates officers to pursue and implement organizational objectives and goals (Baker, 2016). To implement the new policy, I would ensure that I set measurable outcomes and objectives. Additionally, I would delegate the responsibility of ensuring the implementation of the new policies to supervisors. To motivate the officers to implement the goals pertaining to immigration policies, I would ensure that I involve them in the process of planning for the objections in question. Additionally, I would try to see things from the perspective of the junior offices, who will be responsible for implementing the new policies. Motivation may also take the form of reward (Baker, 2016). For instance, I can reward and commend officers who have done an exemplary job implementing the new policies. One of the leadership traits that would be necessary when implementing the differing policies is impeccable communication and listening skills. I would need to provide consistent, inspiring messages to my team. Also, I would need to listen to junior officers and the supervisors regarding what they see as the challenges that would hinder them from implementing the new policies. I would also need to be empathetic. It would be crucial for me to ensure that the officers know that I understand that they may face opposition from their colleagues and members of the public when implementing the new changes.

Questions 2:

If I were the police chief for each of the jurisdictions, I would rarely run my department based solely on my judgment and discretion. This is because I understand that opposition from the police officers in my department may hamper the success of any policies I come up with if I do not involve them. However, there are situations in which I would need to use my judgment and discretion. For instance, I can use my judgment and discretion in situations in which they are two opposing camps who are unwilling to compromise. Sometimes, politicians are usually driven by their own personal interests. However, they play a big role in rallying for the support or opposition to various policies that affect the people they represent. As such, I would involve external political forces such as local elected officials more often. Besides, local politicians, such as the mayor, play a crucial role in ensuring that a police agency has the human and financial resources it needs (Baker, 2016). As the police chief, I would need the support of local residents. According to Baker (2016), open, honest relationship between the community and the police are essential for positive community perception. As such, I would authorize my team to collect data on the opinions of the local residents pertaining to the various policies I intend to implement. However, I understand that it is not possible for me to make everyone happy with my decisions. As such, my focus would be to ensure that I strike a balance between the opinions of the leaders and the local residents and the desire to enhance public safety and security in my jurisdiction. I believe it is possible to build consensus and create mutually beneficial policies when running a law enforcement agency. This can happen through engaging all stakeholders in consultative discussions. Also, data collection and analysis can help come up with mutually beneficial policies. Data collection and analysis will help the agency get the most objective perception of the policies it intends to implement.

Question 3:

Tough enforcement of illegal information may increase the costs of running a law enforcement agency. Police officers from Prince William County may end spending more time enforcing immigration laws as opposed to conducting criminal arrests and investigation. On the positive side, one of the goals of community policing is reducing fear of crime (Baker, 2011). Tough enforcement of immigration laws may reduce the fear of crime. It may make people feel safer since they think that illegal immigrants are likely to commit crimes. On the other hand, little or no enforcement of illegal immigration may increase the fear of crime. Additionally, Prince William County may attract more illegal immigrants. This is because illegal immigrants would move to Prince William County since they know that they will not be stopped and arrested based on their immigration status. This may result in Prince William County suffering social problems such as increased crime and unemployment rates. On the positive side, little or no enforcement of immigration laws may enhance the relationship between the police and members of the public. One of the goals of community policing is developing community rapport (Baker, 2016). Immigrants are an essential part of the community. Whenever they feel as if they are targeted by the police, they may be unwilling to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in reporting incidents of victimization or helping catch criminals.

Question 4:

If I were the chief of police for Prince Williams County, I would justify police officers checking the individuals’ immigration status as a strategy of reducing the fear of crime and the prevalence of crime in the county. Many persons believe that there is a strong causal relationship between crime and immigration (Ciancio, 2017). On the other hand, I would justify the Montgomery County’s police of not checking people’s immigration status as a strategy for enhancing the relationship between the police and members of the community. At the same time, stringent enforcement of immigration policies may be counterproductive since it diverts the police from engaging in their primary responsibility, which is preventing and solving crimes (Ciancio, 2017).  I would justify the use of local law enforcement officers to enforce national immigration laws as a strategy for enhancing the cooperation between the public and the police agency. According to the Montgomery spokeswoman Lucile Baur, the policies prohibiting the police from enforcing immigration laws were aimed at ensuring that the public does not think that the local police conduct random raids with the sole goal of causing the deportation of undocumented immigrants (Miller, 2008). Such a perception of police conduct may be detrimental in community-based policing. On the other hand, the board chairman for Prince William County, Corey A. Stewart, argues that the enforcement of immigration laws is a federal issue. However, the citizens want the local government and local government are doing something do address the issue of immigration (The Washington Times, 2007). As such, Prince Williams County may enjoy positive public perception because of implementing federal policies regarding immigration.

Questions 5:

In Prince Williams, the police may be viewed as doing something to address the issue of immigration the country is facing (Washington Times, 2007).  At the same time, the police officers from this jurisdiction may be perceived as proactive in addressing the issue of crime. On the other hand, the police in Montgomery County may be viewed as condoning illegal immigration. However, community policing requires the cooperation of the citizens and the elected officials, among other stakeholders (Baker, 2016). The perception of these stakeholders regarding the position taken by either Prince William or Montgomery County may affect the level of cooperation they accord to each of these jurisdictions. For instance, the police from Montgomery County may find it hand getting the help of federal law enforcement agencies whenever they need it, for example, when dealing with a serial killer.

References

Baker, T. (2016). Police leadership: Moving beyond management (4th ed.). Looseleft Law Publications, Inc.

Ciancio, A. (2017). The impact of immigration policies on local enforcement, crime and policing efficiency. Retrieved from https://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4017&context=edissertations

The Washington Times. (2007). Prince William to check immigration status. Retrieved from http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/jul/11/prince-william-to-checkimmigration-status/

Miller, K. (2008). Police chief wants immigration policy updates in writing. Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/a1508468~Police_chief_wants_immigration_policy_updates_in_writing.html?cid=rss-Washington_DC