Assignment:
Project - Research Paper
Background:
You are employed on the staff of the Association for Municipal Cities - a "think-tank" organization of researchers who take on projects for various mayors and city managers. You specialize in research on the organization and operation of the police department. The League's latest client is the City of Virtual.
The Virtual City Police Department was created 63 years ago. The department has emerged as one of the primary policing agencies in the state. It has become a modern police department with 155 sworn officers. There are 70 civilian employees appointed to positions ranging from clerical support to correctional officers to crime scene technicians. The department is considered "medium" size in the spectrum of police departments across the country. (The organizational chart is the same as the chart for Project 1.)
You are informed that the Mayor is aware of some members of the City Council who are keenly interested in having the City of Virtual declared a "Sanctuary City". This means that law enforcement action could not be taken against undocumented aliens who come to the attention of Virtual police officers merely because of their illegal status. Undocumented aliens could be the subject of police investigations and arrest for crimes, but could not be questioned about their immigration/citizenship status. The Mayor is concerned that some undocumented aliens may be reluctant to contact governmental agencies (schools, public health care, etc.) including police for fear of detention or deportation because of their illegal immigration status. Avoiding police contact makes them susceptible to sexual assaults, robbery, burglary and other violent crimes.
This also makes these people more vulnerable to extortion, coercion, etc. She is also aware that there is opposition from other members of the City council who feel the civil violation federal immigration laws should be sufficient to detain offenders and inform the U.S. Immigration authority of the detention. They do not want Virtual to be an attractive haven for illegal aliens, some of whom may have affiliations with violent gangs from their home countries. A significant number of councilpersons feel the adoption of a "Sanctuary City" status may render the City of Virtual ineligible for federal grants and other financial assistance. The Mayor has asked the League to prepare a literature-research position paper for her on moving forward with this proposal (or not) based on the pros and cons uncovered in your research. She may ultimately use this objective research document as part of her position on immigration and public safety in the City of Virtual.
Assignment:
As a member of the staff of the Association for Municipal Cities, you have been assigned to prepare a research paper for the Mayor of Virtual City on the declaration of the City of Virtual as a Sanctuary City for illegal immigrants. She has asked that you present both the pros and cons as objectively as possible. Your personal recommendation is not part of this research report.
Formatting requirements:
Your report should include:
- A cover page with your name, project title, course, and date submitted
- An introductory section that explains the purpose of the paper
- Five (5) FULL narrative pages, +/- a half-page, (not including cover page and references page) separated by no more than double spacing, 12 pt. font, and 1 inch margins.
- The composition may be a combination of outline and narrative with outline statements and submit to the assignment folder.
- At least 4 external sources; 2 supporting the declaration of the City of Virtual as a Sanctuary City for illegal immigrants, and 2 against such a designation.