Coastal Security Of India And The Gom Recommendations International - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 12 Words: 3544 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Law Essay Type Research paper Tags: India Essay Did you like this example? INTRODUCTION If the world were to sit up and take note of terrorism on land, it must now stand to, to use a naval phrase, and prepare itself for possible terrorist acts at sea. The task will not be easy because of the nature of the maritimae domain or the theatre where acts of maritime terrorism will be perpetrated. Adm Madhvendra Singh  [1] 1. As the smoke billowing from hotel Taj in South Mumbai grabbed the attention of every news channel on 26 Nov 08  [2]  , a country of 100 billion watched helplessly the shocking reality of the porous coastal security of Indian state, the only country in the world to have an ocean named after it . Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Coastal Security Of India And The Gom Recommendations International" essay for you Create order During his assignment at Mumbai, the author had been allotted a house in the naval officers enclave overlooking the Arabian sea on one side and the busy lanes of Colaba and Cuffe Parade on the other. Mumbai_attack Figure : Attack on Hotel Taj The horrid scenes of that fateful night would return to haunt every morning as the dome of hotel Taj, a symbol of majestic aura and regal legacy, visible at a distant landscape would usher the memories flooding back. Although a thesis or a dissertation requires an objective research, devoid of any emotional overtones, many a time the author could not help such occurrences. It may not find favour with the norms of writing a dissertation as described by Dr Gopalji Malviya  [3]  however, it did add to the pursuit of the subject with passion and enthusiasm. Coastal Security 2. Coastal security, a major subset of an all encompassing subject of maritime security, has been on the centre stage, post terror attack on Mumbai on 26 Nov 08. India, being a maritime state, has numerous interests in the maritime zones and safeguarding these interests, has thrown up fresh challenges in the fast deteriorating security environment. 3. The use of sea route by terrorists for attack at Mumbai has highlighted the vulnerability of our coastline and the lacunae in our existing security mechanism  [4]  . The sphere of activities in the maritime environment is vast and thus, a number of agencies which include Indian Navy, Coast Guard, State Marine Police, Customs, fisheries, port authorities and other central and state departments, are the stake holders in the maritime domain. This multi agency environment requires co-operation, co-ordination and understanding of each others strengths as well as limitations, to ensure fool proof security by optimum exploitation of l imited resources. The vulnerability of Indian coastal set up had been exposed earlier in the 1993 Mumbai blasts when the explosives had found their way into a desolate landing spot in Raigad coast. Only this time, it was not a wakeup call but a slap on the face of intelligence and security agencies.  [5] Kasab101terrorists Figure : Terrorists from Pakistan Post Kargil, the government of India had set up a committee of Group of Ministers (GoM) for reviewing the national security setup and the GoM recommendations were approved by the government in Oct 2001  [6]  . The issue of coastal security was adequately addressed by the GoM. What caused this colossal breach of security is an entirely different subject for study, but a visit to the Kargil Review Committee (KRC) would be in order. GoM Recommendations Figure : Coastal Security Scheme4. Coastal Security Scheme(CSS). In pursuance of the recommendations of the Group of Ministers  [7]  , MHA formulated policy for setting up of marine police stations in the coastal states and Union Territories  [8]  . The objective of the Coastal Security Scheme was to strengthen the infrastructure for patrolling and surveillance of coastal areas, particularly shallow areas close to the coast which hitherto have remained largely un-policed. On the recommendations of the GoM, various actions were initiated by the government which included the following:- India_coastal_security_scheme (a) Activation of Border Management (BM) division in MHA. (b) Setting up of 10 Coast Guard stations along the coastline to beef up coastal security. These Coast Guard stations are to be funded by the border management division of MHA under the coastal security scheme. (c) Procurement of 16 IBs for coastal security. (d) Setting up coastal radar chain al l along the mainland coastline. (e) Setting up of Marine Police in all the coastal states and island territories. 5. GoM also recommended certain measures for enhancing the coastal security and the security of Indian ports. Some of these recommendations include the following:- (a) A Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) to be installed in approaches to ports and channels to effectively monitor and control movements of ships entering / leaving ports or channels. In principle, VTMS should be installed in all major ports and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In addition, the proposal for VTMS schemes for the Gulf of Kutch and offshore oil platforms should be expedited. (b) The issue and accounting procedures of the customs / immigration should be made more stringent so that the same cannot be circumvented after persons issued with it have been deported. The Customs/Immigration facilities at minor ports also be strengthened. (c) Necessary instructions need to be issued by DG , Shipping on the subject of Seamans Cards. The cards should be made tamper-proof, affixed with a photo and laminated. (d) The laws and procedures relating to detention and prosecution of poachers and confiscation of boats need to be tightened. The concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India should consider setting up Maritime Courts or alternatively, giving powers of prosecution and detention to the Coast Guard and to the proposed Marine Police. METHODOLOGY Statement of the Problem 6. To analyse the Indian Coastal Security model and identify the capabilities required for a credible and effective force to counter threats with comparative analysis of the US prototype and the international experience. Justification of the Study 7. Due to its geographical position, India has had a land-oriented defence philosophy for many centuries, dictated partially by the fact that before the European period, which resulted in colonisation of India, all invasions had come over land from the West. The wars fought by India post-independence, to a large extent, have been land-centric though an increasingly important role played by the navy was also witnessed. The last two decades have seen an increase in the activities and presence of powerful nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) underlining the importance of a credible naval force to counter the seaward threat to India  [9]  . 8. The events in the past few decades, in India and world-wide, clearly indicate that the maritime boundaries of any nation are within the reach of not only neighbouring states but also terrorist organisations and non-state actors  [10]  . To address the rising asymmetric threat, there exists an urgent need to analyse the threat to In dias national security from seaborne asymmetric attacks with emphasis on the protection of critical coastal infrastructure including VAs/VPs and analyse the capabilities existing or required to counter such threats. Post 26/11, the responsibility for security of the nation against external aggression from the sea involving smaller vessels and asymmetric attacks, has also shifted to the Indian Navy, in conjunction with Indian Coast Guard. As the Navy comes to terms with her newfound responsibility closer to the coast, it requires a change of mindset and a shift of focus from a blue-water navy, to one, additionally capable of carrying out effective constabulary operations in the brown-waters. Scope 10. The aim of the dissertation is to identify the challenges faced by the nation to counter the threat to coastal security from seaborne asymmetric attacks and recommend suitable remedial measures. The analysis of US prototype as well as international experience and relevance in Indian context will be carried out to chart the way ahead. Hypothesis 11. The present capability of Indias security forces, including their associated infrastructure and inter-agency coordination, needs augmentation as well as revival to effectively counter the threat from seaborne asymmetric attacks. Methods of Data Collection 12. The main sources of the dissertation are the books relevant to maritime affairs and articles, reports and essays published in various reputed publications and articles available in discussion forums on the internet. In addition survey method and questionnaire as well as interview of stakeholders in the present coastal security setup would be carried out. Organisation of the Dissertation 13. The subject is intended to be studied under the following heads: (a) Chapter I Introduction and Methodology. (b) Chapter II Existing Indian Model. (c) Chapter III Concepts of Coastal Security in the USA. (d) Chapter IV -.International Experience (e) Chapter V Indias Coastal Security Challenges and Vulnerabilities (f) Chapter VI Present Status and Recommendations.. CHAPTER II IMPERATIVES FOR COASTAL SECURITY AND CHALLENGES OF INDIAN SETUP In conjointly fighting terrorism, we ought to make it loud and clear that no idea, no cause whatsoever, can justify terrorism. Questions like good or bad terrorism should not be entertained for such distinctions are coloured and tainted by bias, prejudice and narrow thinking. Terrorists belong to no religion for they are not apostles of peace but messengers of death and destruction. HE Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India Securing Indian Maritime Borders Geo-Strategic Location of India. Sitting astride the busy shipping lanes, the so called arteries of the global trade,India is the second largest in the Indian Ocean region, after Australia. With a coastline of 7516 km,  [11]  the Indian peninsula extends 1,240 miles into the Indian Ocean. A fact file about the maritime profile of India with relevant details is placed at Appendix A. India has an EEZ of 2.02 million square kilometres, which is equivalent to 61% of the landmass; which is expected to go up to almost 3 million sq km after the delimitation of the continental shelf.  [12] Figure : Salient Maritime Facts Indian Influence in IOR. The steady rise of India as a result of the extensive reforms and economic growth in the range of eight to nine percent per annum has set the stage for economic, political and security engagement amongst the IOR countries. With the emergence of Indian and Chinese influence in the region ,the Indian Ocean is projected to match the Pacifi c in geo-strategic importance.  [13]  Keeping these realities in mind, the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), was initiated by Indian Navy in 2008. This has provided a regional forum through which the Navies of the littoral states of IOR can meet periodically and engage one another constructively through the creation and promotion of regionally relevant mechanisms, events and activities. With the security environment engulfing the seascape with threats of maritime terrorism, the role for India has assumed greater significance. WORLD PHYSICAL Drivers for Coastal Security Defence of Outlying Island Territory. A vast number of island territories stretch across the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Some of these, in the Nicobar group, are in fact, geographically closer to Indonesia and Malaysia than to the Indian mainland  [14]  . This extended coastline requires adequate policing and surveillance. At sea, unlike on the land border, outposts or fences cannot be erected. Offshore Assets. India has a vast EEZ and the offshore sector contributes nearly 65% and 70% of Indias crude oil and natural gas products respectively  [15]  . Most of the hydrocarbon industry is located close to their offshore oil installations. It is therefore obvious that all these assets are extremely vulnerable to attacks from the sea. C:Documents and SettingsMCM GENERALDesktop15233030ongc.jpg Figure : Concern for Offshore Installations Shipping and Trade. Today 95% of the world trade is carried out by sea. Handling of trade depends, largely on the port infras tructure. India has 13 major, 185 intermediate and minor ports which handle 170 million tonnes of cargo  [16]  . Of this, a mere ten percent utilises coastal shipping and the rest is overseas, with more than a 100 ships passing through Indias area of interest each day. Fishing. The worlds fishing catch is about 100 million tonnes per annum. Of this about ten million tonnes takes place in the Indian Ocean. It is estimated that Indias EEZ has a sustainable potential of over 40 million tonnes, which is four times more than her catch today. Cross Border Movements. The fishing hamlets close to the IMBL and the most volatile trespassing zone off Sir Creek area share an interesting fact. A prized catch in these waters is of Lal Pari, the red snapper fish, considered a delicacy that breeds in the confluence of fresh water of Indus meeting the saline water of Arabian sea. It is perhaps the lure of this prize catch that draws the fishermen to disregard IMBL restrictions. A large num ber of Indian fishing boats have been apprehended by Pak MSA. The use of any of these captured boats to infiltrate across the IMBL can not be ruled out. The details of 419 boats in Pak custody obtained from Fisheries department are placed at Appendix B.  [17] Figure : A Prized Catch of Red Snapper Seabed Mining. The thirst for oil and hunger of industry for raw materials, minerals has rendered oceans a huge repository of resources. India , a pioneer state for the exploitation of sea bed resources has been allocated 15 million square kilometres in the central Indian Ocean for exploitation of resources. Need for coastal security. The IOR is home to nations, diverse in terms of geography, history and economy. Religion, ideologies and political systems are key triggering aspects in this region. Sensitive installations along the coast such as BARC in Mumbai, Kalpakkam nuclear power plant in Chennai, Mumbai High offshore oil facility, Chandipur-at-sea missile testing range in O rissa and the Equatorial Rocket Launching Station at Thumba and Goa Shipyard are believed to be in the targeting list of terrorists.  [18]  Thus, the Indian Coast today is being exploited by terrorists for influencing the terror on land and to attack high value targets for political impact and to spread terror amongst the population. There is, therefore, an urgent need to address the coastal security challenges and vulnerabilities to evolve a policy of cooperative engagement, not only within the country, but also in the region to arrive at strategic options in prosecuting these threats. MARITIME VULNERABILITIES Maritime Threats. The IOR will remain a hotbed of interests, as the epicentre of world politics and concerns for decades, owing to its immense strategic importance and economic significance. From conventional naval confrontation, sneak terrorist attacks, hostage-takings, hijacking oil tankers, deliberate pollution of the coast, smuggling of weapons, narcotics, raw material for chemical and biological warfare to suicide attacks on ships at sea or anchor, Indias maritime threats are indeed varied. Porous Coastline. Unlike the land border, there are no outposts or fences at sea. Operation Water Rat by CNN IBN for example, had exposed the glaring loopholes in 2006 in the coastal security setup. The 26 Nov 08 assault on Indias commercial capital has stripped the nation out of complacency and exposed the fragile Indian coastal security architecture. A porous coastline, touching nine states and four union territories, 13 major and 185 minor ports, and a vast EEZ is proving to be diffi cult to patrol.  [19] Uninhabited Islands. Nearly 1,200 uninhabited islands in our seas pose a major security threat as these are being scanned by terror outfits. Although the vulnerability of these islands has been discussed in every high-level meeting, not many in the security establishment are sure whether these uninhabited tracts are actually free from jihadi elements. Sea Borne Attack. Seasoned naval observers had foreseen a terrorist attack from the sea. Vice Admiral Arun Kumar Singh (Retd) had predicted a seaborne terrorist attack on India in his newspaper column on 18 May 08. He had argued that there was substance in the Intelligence Bureaus (IB) assessment that terrorists were planning seaborne attacks against dozens of oil rigs, including production and support platforms, along Indias coast  [20]  . Yet, not enough was done to prevent such an attack. Gun Running. Smuggling of narcotics and gun-running generates huge amounts of money that fuels terrorism amon gst other things. The arms supply for the LTTE movement was funnelled through in this manner across the Bay of Bengal. Many such vessels have been apprehended or neutralised over the years of LTTEs existence, but the Sea-tigers of the LTTE had amply demonstrated that the coasts could prove easy ingress points despite substantial patrolling  [21]  . Given her history, demographics and pluralistic society, India is especially vulnerable to similar targeting by similar non-state actors. Clearly, it is necessary to take issues of maritime security far more seriously than has been done thus far. Fishing Boats. The fishermen go where there is fish. They routinely cross across virtual boundaries, for example, in the Palk Bay, 300 to 500 Indian fishing boats cross over to the Sri Lankan side and return the next day after fishing. Similarly the Sri Lankan boats cross over into the Indian side of the IMBL in the Gulf of Mannar. A couple of patrolling IN and ICG ships in addition to Sri Lankan warships are unable to counter such large numbers despite concerted efforts because of the sheer numbers. Picture a010.jpgfishing Offshore Platforms. Offshore platforms engaged in exploitation of oil and gas are quite vulnerable to clandestine attack. The only security being provided is, by slow hired fishing boats/ trawlers to prevent unauthorised vessels from closing the platforms to less than 500 meters. The offshore infrastructure of India presently consists of more than 25 Process platforms, 125 Well platforms and more than 3000 km of pipeline on the seabed. The existing area where production is going on is more than 17,000 sq nm. Any disruption in oil production can have a snowballing effect on the nations economy. Hence, it is incumbent that adequate maritime forces/ resources be provided to strengthen the security of these National assets. Underwater warfare. Underwater Warfare suits terrorist requirements of low technology and unconventional means to challe nge a superior force. The capture of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri,  [22]  the alleged mastermind of Al Qaedas nautical strategy has revealed that Al Qaeda would use small submersible, underwater motor-propelled sleds that divers use and human torpedoes to carry out underwater attacks. Another form of dangerous underwater warfare is mines, which are well suited for deployment in coastal waters.  [23]  This threat raises questions about underwater security, which has been overlooked time and again. Port Security. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and private security organisations manage the security of various Indian ports. The ports at Kandla and Mundra in Gujarat jointly handle the largest chunk of export-import cargo in the country. With Mundra being the first port of call for any ship coming from Pakistan it is highly prone to terrorist attacks. While the security personnel employed at Mundra are ex-army, they are not permitted to use firearms. The ICG and Marine police are constantly patrolling these areas but they lack equipment and boats for any effective security.  [24]  Most of the ports and harbours in India suffer a similar, pathetic state of security infrastructure and are highly vulnerable. Port security at our ports, large or small, is inadequate to say the least. Threat from Containers. The transportation of cargo these days is mainly by shipping it in containers. The officials at the Indian ports have neither the means of knowing the contents of the numerous containers that transit in and out of our ports, nor is there a mechanism in place to scan these containers on arrival. An American led Container Security Initiative(CSI), which would make it mandatory for containers to be scanned, has not received acceptance by India because apparently the Left parties saw it as an effort to subvert our sovereignty. Almost anything can be carried in containers including narcotics, arms and explosives, including migrant stowaways. Whi le the CSI caters for containers headed towards the US, this could well be universally implemented. Indias stance on CSI may need a relook. Narcotics Trade. Iran and Pakistan form a major portion of the drug-infested golden crescent, while Myanmar and Thailand constitute a major portion of the golden triangle. As all these states are in the IOR, it is natural that drug trafficking is a major security concern for littoral states like India, which has witnessed its own emergence as a transit point for a majority of the drugs that emanate from these two areas.  [25]  The sea is a huge expanse where hundreds of boats are encountered and it is next to impossible to completely scan this traffic. Though effective coastal surveillance is required; the complete physical barricading of the coast is impossible, invariably leaving the coast porous.  [26] Flag of Convenience (FOC) Shipping. The presence of vessels flying Flags of Convenience poses different challenges at sea. These v essels are characterised by low safety standards and lax manning regulations.  [27]  Such ships are considered the safest bet for carrying out terrorist-related activities. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),  [28]  for example, had an entire flotilla engaged in dubious maritime trade. The worlds largest merchant shipping fleet ostensibly belongs on paper to three lesser known countries, Panama, Honduras and Liberia. Intelligence. To be able to act decisively it is necessary to have what was termed by Admiral Suresh Mehta (Retd) as Actionable Intelligence. The external intelligence agency- Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the internal agency- Intelligence Bureau (IB) need to share specific, actionable and effective intelligence. This has been a serious lacuna, at least partially attributable to turf wars. Incidentally, the CIA had provided two warnings of a possible attack on targets in Mumbai which were frequented by foreigners.  [29]  Often, vital intellig ence gets camouflaged in the undecipherable maze of bureaucratic procedures. To say that cohesion between various agencies leaves a lot to be desired would be an understatement. End Notes

Police Chief August Vollmer s Contributions Of Modern...

Police Chief August Vollmer’s Contributions to Modern California Law Enforcement With the on-going development of the United States throughout the 1900’s, the evolution of crime and the need to address it also continued to progress. New advances in technological equipment (and application) continued to spread throughout the country in all common areas of life. New ideas about crime and the way to successfully address would also need to take shape. August Vollmer was one of the key individuals that helped to develop and form the progress of the criminal justice system as we know it today (Wilson, 1953, p.97-100). August Vollmer was elected to the position of Marshal in the town of Berkeley at on April 10, 1905, and was later elected as the first Berkeley police chief on August 13, 1909 (Wilson, 1953, p.94). During his time at Berkeley, Vollmer utilized numerous methods for applying known, as well as new strategies in his police operations (Wilson, 1953, p.97). It h as been widely recognized that August Vollmer has greatly contributed many different implementations of original training, techniques, and putting into practice the use of new technological equipment that has helped improve the criminal justice system not only in California but throughout the United States (Wilson, 1953, p.100-103). What are some of the ways Vollmer has contributed to the development of modern California law enforcement? Police Operations To begin to address any problem or issue, itShow MoreRelatedInfluence of Vollmer and Wilson on Modern Law Enforcement1663 Words   |  7 Pagescrime prevention, authority, professionalism and discretion have evolved in modern law enforcement since the twentieth century. August Vollmer instituted university training as a tool for young officers in training and under Vollmer’s teachings; O.W. Wilson pioneered the use of advanced training for officers and is also known for the start of criminal justice as an academic field. Wilson was also instrumental in applying modern management and administrative techniques to policing. Vollmer’s drive forRead MoreThe Father Of Modern Police Administration1296 Words   |  6 PagesBiological Sketch August Vollmer Many persons are familiar with the story of policing in regards to its British origins involving Sir Robert Peel. However, very few are acquainted with the story of August Vollmer, who is hailed as the father of modern police administration in the United States. Vollmer, a pioneer of the criminal justice system, revolutionized policing by providing the foundations to the practices that we see today. August Vollmer was born on March 7th, 1876 in New Orleans, the sonRead MoreEssay on Analysis of Corruption in Law Enforcement2961 Words   |  12 PagesCorruption in law enforcement has been a nationwide problem for many years. Not only is corruption held in one level of law enforcement, but throughout the three levels including the state, local and federal. The formation of the first police departments were the model by the early english society. The early years of policing began to contribute various forms of misconduct from police officers. Soon thereafter, Sir Robert peel established early modern policing which influenced the colonial americaRead More Trends In Policing Essay2326 Words   |  10 Pagesthe laws of our society. Of course the way they do this today had undergone changes from the first police forces of early America, law enforcement has seen trends come and go. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Law enforcement is divided into three major eras throughout history. These eras are the political era, the reform era and the community era. The political era that took place between 1840-1930 was characterized by five points, which was the authority was coming from politicians and the law, a broad

Criminology Midterm free essay sample

Anytown’s Department of Job and Family Services’ implemented a new policy stating that â€Å"any household that has one or more documented offense of domestic violence, child abuse, or drug or alcohol related offenses committed by the mother, father, guardian, and/or caregiver, will result in the removal of any child or children from the home. In addition to the removal of a child, â€Å"the child will be placed in the care of the state, or foster care services, until documentation can prove that the offender has undergone any or all of the following, and has thus been â€Å"offense free† for a period of no less than six months: alcohol and /or drug treatment, counseling, family therapy sessions, mental health treatment, anger management, life skills classes, and/or parenting classes. † I have to say that I strongly oppose the majority of the policy. Firstly, I see many ethical and moral dilemmas. Secondly, I believe this policy will have an immediate negative impact on the children, as well as an ultimately destructive effect on criminality in the future. Lastly, while I do feel that the Department of Job and Family Services interpreted the social learning theory properly, I do not feel, however, that they applied it properly when implementing the policy. I question this policy for that a number of moral and ethical issues come to mind when I think of this new policy. This policy seems to be that of one that too quickly jumps to conclusions as well as judgments.Which brings up questions such as who determines that a child is in danger? What constitutes endangerment in the government’s eyes? How is it decided that the state is better suited to raise my child? Someone has to inform the state that an issue exists within a household. Sometimes it is a police officer that responded to a dispute. Sometimes it’s a concerned neighbor. Other times it’s another family member or friend of the family. The point I’m getting at is that while many times there is real danger, a lot of times it is a simple case of misunderstanding or even a false claim.The case should be well investigated before a decision to remove a child is made. I do not think I have enough faith in the ability of the Department of Jobs and Family Services to thoroughly investigate an issue for me to be open to the new policy. This policy, in my opinion, is intrusive and allows the government to insinuate itself into a citizen’s life, home, and family. Americans embrace their freedoms and rights from fear of oppression from the government. This means that American people should not have to be afraid that the government will take a child away from his/her family, because of one infraction or mistake.In my opinion, one offe`nse does not seem substantial enough evidence in deciding that a child should be ripped away from his/her family. There are many occasions when a nosey neighbor perceives something they saw as abuse or neglect, when in reality it was not. In criminal cases, citizens have the right to due process, as well as the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty. I do not see a fair system here. Are the people who are deciding the fate of a child and family really qualified enough to make such a momentous decision?If the government decides that they can raise your child better than you, then where does it end? The idea borders too much on the side of a totalitarianism government. Another issue I have with this policy is that one of the â€Å"offenses† refers to that of alcohol. Alcohol is legal. So tell me how the government can decide to take someone’s child away for something that it deems legal. It is a much bigger pill to swallow for average citizens, when a contradiction such as this exists in any new policy.It’s like telling someone to look but not touch, touch but do not taste, taste but do not swallow, swallow but do not enjoy. I do agree that alcohol abuse is an endangerment in a household. I just do not agree with using something that is legal as a justification for such an audacious policy. Any policy such as this one will always have an impact on children and their families as well as the criminality of the country; whether it is immediate or eventual. It is my opinion that, for the most part, foster care is actually regressive rather than progressive. According to a 2007 study done by MIT’s Joseph Doyle Jr. which looked at outcomes for more than 15,000 children and compared foster children not to the general population but to comparably-maltreated children left in their own homes, the evidence suggested that the children left in their own homes tend to do better. The study showed that â€Å"children left in their own homes are far less likely to become pregnant as teenagers, far less likely to wind up in the juvenile justice system, and far more likely to hold a job for at least three months than comparably maltreated children who were placed in foster care† (Veloso, 2009).Doyle published yet another study the next year. This time he compared 23,000 cases, again foster children to comparably maltreated children left with their families, but looked at which children would be more likely to be arrested as adults. The study again showed that the children left with their families were better off. The children placed in foster care were significantly more likely to become involved in criminal activities as adults. To me, this study shows not only how ineffective foster care is but also how damaging it is. The potential trouble caused by the foster care system begins at home.By removing the child from his/her family, the state is uprooting all that the child knows; away from friends, school, church, any other family, if he/she has any left, etc. Then who does that child have left? There are many times when removal of a child and placement into foster care is very necessary. However, foster care is necessary only in the event that the child is in imminent danger and all other options have been exhausted. If studies show that foster care is actually worse than life at home, would it not be more pertinent to keep the family together to try and work things out?After removing the child from his/her family, the new policy suggests that the children stay in state custody until the pa rents â€Å"prove that (they) have undergone any or all of the following, and has thus been â€Å"offense free† for a period of no less than six months: alcohol and/or drug treatment, counseling, family therapy sessions, mental health treatment, anger management, life skills classes, and/or parenting classes. † I fully agree that parents should complete these programs. However, I believe that the family as a whole should complete these programs together, not as separate individuals.I firmly believe that a problem should be worked on from the inside out, not the outside in. Anytown’s policy to use foster care as a first resort takes away the family’s chance to do so, which in turn takes away their ability to heal as a family. Another thing I fear is that this policy has the potential to actually increase the crime rate. The research I’ve done shows that putting a child into the foster care system could actually increase his/her chance of becoming involved in crime. In terms of crime, it’s like trading in a knife for a gun. Based on the studies performed by Doyle, implementing a policy that increases the use of foster care could produce a greater population of young offenders. This, in turn, would create a vicious cycle of creating generations with more and more criminals. The children placed into the foster care system, will one day grow to be adults, many more than previous becoming involved in crime. These criminalistics adults that were raised in the system will produce children of their own. Due to the new policy, the children of these criminals, who are a product of the policy, will likely be placed into foster care as well.Thus, repeating the cycle. Increasing the use of the removal of children, in my opinion, only increases the number potential criminals. If it is true that children learn abuse from their environment, and studies show that foster care is a worse environment, why increase its usage? Anytown cites the social learning theory as their basis for implementing this one offense/zero-tolerance type policy. â€Å"Social learning theorists argue that people are not born with the ability to act violently; rather, they learn to be aggressive through their life experiences† (Siegel, 2007, p. 21). In my opinion, the Department of Job and Family Services interpreted the theory properly. It is very possible that children are a product of their environment. Under the social learning theory, â€Å"people learn to act aggressively when, as children, they model their behavior after the violent acts of adults. Later in life, these violent behavior patterns persist in social relationships† (Siegel, 2007, p. 121).As said earlier, foster care should not be the first response to a problem at home, for it does not give families a chance to work issues out and the increase of its use would create an influx of potential criminals. If the social learning theory is correct, Anytown was right to suggest that something needed to be done. However, their policy is way off base in its goal to indeed do something. Their policy is counterproductive and actually produces an outcome that is contradictory to their overall goal.Just because a theory suggests that a child has a greater potential of becoming involved in crime when maltreated, just simply removing that child is not going to work. Not to say that there are not cases when a child should be removed for his/her own safety, but Anytown’s policy seems to want to focus more on preventing children from becoming criminals rather than their safety. In my opinion, Anytown should focus more on helping the family. That is to say that I think that they should help fix the environment that the child is in, for the social learning theory does suggest that it is the environment that is the cause.My point is that a different, and potentially worse, environment is not necessarily the answer. If studies show that families that stay together are better off, then attempts to fix the family while keeping them together should be the answer. In review, Anytown, U. S. A. ’s Department of Job and Family Services, citing the social learning theory as their basis and over concerns about child endangerment issues, implemented a new policy stating that â€Å"Any household that has one or more documented offense of domestic violence, child abuse, or drug or alcohol related offenses committed by the mother, father, uardian, and/or caregiver, will result in the removal of any child or children from the home. † I personally find many moral and ethical issues with this policy, such as the intrusive and unforgiving nature of the â€Å"zero-tolerance† style it comes with. Certain situations are just misunderstandings. In my opinion, the policy seems to judge to quickly and the tearing apart of a family should be taken seriously. I feel a parent should have more of a right to fight to keep his/her child than to keep him/herself out of jail. The Department of Job and Family Services isn’t exactly a court of law either.Not to mention th e fact that the state is more concerned with taking a child away from his/her family in an attempt to reduce future crime, based on the idea that a child is a product of his/her environment. On the contrary though, studies show that children placed in foster care are actually more likely to become involved in crime than children that are comparably maltreated and stay with their families. While I do agree with the Department of Job and Family Services plan to implement such things as parenting classes, family therapy, and alcohol drug rehabilitation, I disagree that the removal of the child is necessary.The family should attempt to heal together and all other options exhausted before foster care should be considered. Finally, regarding the policy being based on the social learning theory, the DJFS is right in its interpretation of the theory, just wrong in applying it to the policy. Overall, I do not agree with Anytown’s attempt to reform child endangerment issues.

Pain And Crevecoeur Essays - Social Psychology, Attitude Change

Pain And Crevecoeur Persuasion is the force exerted to influence behavior that includes a reflected change in attitude. Everyday we are bombarded with messagesfrom people who wish to influence our behavior and attitudes. Persuasion canbe used to accomplish good as well as bad, though, in my paper I willrefrain from making value judgements and only report the factual aspects. I will discuss the two basic routes to persuasion, the elements involved, andways to protect current attitudes and behaviors from change. When trying to persuade someone, there are two different methods from which to choose-the central and peripheral routes. The central route persuades by usingdirect arguments and pertinent information. The peripheral route persuadespeople by association with incidental cues that are pleasing to the senses. The central route is used to reach people who are more motivated and analytical, while people who are less analytical and less involved aremore likely to be influenced by the peripheral route. In advertising a combination of the two is common and effective. Computer ads relyprimarily on the central route, because their target audiences are perceived as highly analytical. Promotion for alcohol and tobacco products employ the peripheral route because they wish to draw attention away from thepossible negative effects that they are, in reality, associated with. To truly understand the effects of persuasion it is necessary to break the actdown to its smaller components. The for elements of persuasion are 1.) The communicator, 2.) The message content, 3.) How it is communicated, and4.) The receiver of the message. The content of the message is important but also whoever gives the message has an effect on people?s acceptance ofit. The major determinant of the communicator?s success are his/herperceived credibility and attractiveness. Credibility, or believability isdetermined by the communicator?s appearance as an expert or as someone who can be trusted. Expertise is established when the communicator is introduced as someone who has a great deal of knowledge concerning the topic of conversation. When the communicator relays viewpoints that areidentical to the audience she/he will be perceived as smart. Also, to project animage of expertise it is necessary to speak confidently and withouthesitating. Trustworthiness of the communicator is assumed if direct eye contact is used and speech is rapid. If the speaker is seen as not trying toinfluence or is arguing a position that is against their personal interest theywill be considered trustworthy. An attractive communicator has certain qualities, like physical appeal and similarity, that draw in theaudience. If the arguments of the attractive speaker are more readily accepted, central route persuasion has occurred or if we are persuaded by the unconnected positive association between the communicator and theproduct there has been peripheral route persuasion. When statements are made toa group by someone from the same ethnic background, the group is morewilling to listen. It appears true, the belief that we like people who aresimilar to us- and if we like someone we are more open to their suggestions. The second element of persuasion, the content of the message, deals with the specific type of messages that work best to convince. Emotional messages are most effective on less educated people, while rational appeals tendto score better with analytical or well educated people. Discrepancybetween the message and receiver opinion often effects whether persuasionoccurs. A credible communicator is most effective when arguing an extreme position and someone who is not viewed as credible is best off giving a viewpoint where there is a moderate discrepancy. Communicators must decidewhether to put forth a one-sided or two-sided appeal. One-sided appeals work bestwith those who already agree. Two-sided appeals work best with people who are initially opposed to your idea. Also message acceptance is effected bywhen it is heard and when the argument against that message is heard. Primacy affect states ?Other things being equal, information presented first usually has the most influence.?(1) The primacy effect works only whenboth messages are heard at once, with a period of time passing before responding. In a situation where a message is given followed by alengthy period of time, and then the second message is given, the response is usually to accept the second message. This is recency effect.?Information presented last sometimes has the most influence. Recency effects areless common than primacy effects.?(2) How the message is communicated, thethird element to persuade, stresses the importance of message delivery. ?Communication is the most important and complex thing we do. It canshape our careers, our lives, and our world... You can control the outcome of