Criminal Justice Management Essay
1) As the Police Chief for Montgomery County Maryland, I would focus on the prevention of crimes and implementation of immigration enforcement policies based on crimes committed by offenders. In other words, I would recommend police officers detain offenders and if they do not have legal immigrant status, undertake legal actions defined by the law and existing immigration policies with regard to illegal immigrants. I would motivate subordinates with my positive feedback. Police officers should use the common approach to all citizens, regardless of their ethnicity or racial background. In such a way, police officers will focus on the legal aspects of the actions of individuals rather than on their immigration status.
As the police Chief for Prince William County Virginia, I would focus the attention of police officers on operations concerning the revelation of illegal immigrants and the channels of their arrival to the US. I would motivate subordinates by giving them bonuses for the successful investigation and identification of illegal immigrants. The leadership would guide subordinates to reach the target outcomes of the immigration enforcement policy. I would motivate police officers to identify illegal immigrants and offer them bonuses if they are successful in this regard.
2) As the Police Chief I would run my police department based on existing legal norms, regulations, and policies rather than my own judgment and discretion. I should act as the leader of the department to encourage police officers to respect existing legal norms and rules. In this regard, I would take into account the public opinion and official policies conducted by the local government to comply with both of them. The opinion of local citizens should be particularly important in the enforcement of policies, such as immigration policies because the police serve to needs of local community members. However, it is impossible to make everyone happy with decisions. This is why it is important to meet the position of the majority of the local population but prevent the discrimination of minority groups at the same time. In such a situation, the police may try to play the part of mediator between the public and policymakers to arrive at a common conclusion. The community should have an opportunity to communicate their position concerning the immigration policy and the police should develop policies to meet the expectations of community members. If the community stands for an equal attitude to all citizens, regardless of whether they are illegal immigrants or not, then the police should meet this goal.
3) Tough enforcement of illegal immigration may trigger conflicts between non-white communities and white-community because representatives of non-white communities may suffer from biased and prejudiced attitudes on the part of police officers. As a result, police officers may face allegations of racial discrimination within the local community. Little or no enforcement of illegal immigration may lead to the deterioration of the situation and growth of social tension because of the increase in the number of illegal immigrants in the community. As a result, the public may start viewing the police as being unable to cope with the problem of illegal immigration and the police will confront the problem of mistrust and lack of confidence on the part of the public. Therefore, the choice of the policy defines the different responses in the community. This is why the police should conduct a policy that minimizes the risk of conflicts in the particular community.
4) Tough illegal immigration policy may be justified by the protection of the local community from the flow of illegal immigrants and the possibility of the deterioration of the criminological situation in the community. Liberal illegal immigration policy based on a loyal attitude to illegal immigrants may be justified by the attempt to prevent ethnic or racial conflicts in the community. Local law enforcement officers know the situation in their local community better than federal legislators. This is why they may comply with national immigration laws but apply them taking into consideration local specificities. The enhancement of immigrations laws is justified by the protection of the social and economic interests of Americans, while the lack of enforcement is grounded in the attempt to prevent conflicts between the majority and minority groups. If the national legislation has some gaps local jurisdiction should enhance it. The enhancement of the legislation can grant law enforcement agencies wider opportunities to perform their functions properly. However, the enhancement of law enforcement still should not come into conflict with existing laws and the civil rights of citizens, regardless of their immigration status.
5) The police may be viewed as too tolerant of illegal immigrants in Montgomery County Maryland, while the police may confront severe criticism on the part of minority groups in Prince William County Virginia because of their different policies in regard to illegal immigrants. Also, police officers are vulnerable to the impact of citizens, elected officials, federal law enforcement officers, and others since they interact with them and should meet the interests of the key stakeholders as well as they should prevent the violation of laws and maintain the public order in the community. Police officers comprise a part of the local community and willingly or not they cannot ignore the position of citizens in regard to such issues as illegal immigration because such issues affect the life of the local community and the wellbeing of community members. This is why police officers cannot avoid the impact on citizens and local communities, which they comprise a part.
