8 page paper on Stop and Frisk Policy

CJUS 601

Dr. Todd Isaacson

Wilmer Aja

Problem

As the Police Chief for the city of Miami, Florida, the mayor, and the Governor of the State are proposing that the city implements a “Stop and Frisk” policy within the city limits. The policy is not currently in place, and I have been tasked with conducting the proper analysis for the overall implementation of this policy, increment an altered approach or the abandoning of the policy, overall. This will require and in-depth analysis of the “Stop and Frisk” policy and how it applies to the city of Miami. The policy has garnered lots of attention across the entire nation, particularly in major cities such as New York City. The events of New York City have shaped this controversial policy in a manner which has caused lots of controversy because of the sheer nature of how these searches are being conducted.

The term “Stop-and-Frisk” refers to the little non-intrusive police place of the person. The Fourth Amendment statement states that before stopping the person, the police must have the reasonable doubt that the crime has existed, is existing, or is about to be trusted by the suspect. If the police suspect that the person is armed and unsafe, the police may frisk the person, thinking that the police would make the speedy pat-down of the person's outer clothing. This raises some serious concerns in terms of the safety of the personnel that are being searched and it there are clear violations of their Fourth Amendment rights. There will be a transition in the paper to the significance of the problem.

Significance

I. Definition of “Stop and Frisk”

A. Doctrinal Definition

II. Police Departments that have implemented the Program

A. Police Departments across the United States

B. Police Departments across the entire world

III. Applicable Laws

A. Fourth Amendment Rights

B. Federal Laws

C. Local Laws

IV. Advantages and Disadvantages of Implementation

A. Advantages of “Stop and Frisk”

B. Disadvantages of “Stop and Frisk”

Proposed Solutions

I. Not implementing the “Stop and Frisk”

A. Impacts to the Miami-Dade Police Department

B. Impacts to External Stakeholders

C. Impacts to the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Budget

II. Incremental Approach to the “Stop and Frisk”

A. Impacts to the Miami-Dade Police Department

B. Impacts to External Stakeholders

C. Impacts to the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Budget

III. Full Implementation of the “Stop and Frisk”

A. Impacts to the Miami-Dade Police Department

B. Impacts to External Stakeholders

C. Impacts to the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Budget

Christian Worldview

The ability to follow the Christian Worldview is an integral part of this paper. My strong faith in our Lord has guided me to make the best recommendation to my superiors. Placing the law and the needs of our citizens at the forefront, there simply are too many variables which will not allow the “Frisk & Search” policy to truly thrive within our great city. This policy is simply too controversial, and I have the full faith in our great police officers to do the right thing and treat our citizens with dignity and respect. The principles which the Holy Bible provide us serve as the guideline for us to follow. The following Bible verses will be part of the Christian Worldview of this paper:

John 3:18: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions in truth.”

John 4:16: “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.”

Timothy 2:15: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of the truth.”

John 8:32: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

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