Oarland City Jail Closure Illustrates Naive Leadership Essay

The primary job of a metropolis government is to ensure overt golosh for every its dwellers and visitors. However, the metropolis council has refused to meet or ack this instantledge this critical and prime responsibility. Instead, it hands subsidies to favored developers. And swelling redevelopment empire, likewise, smothers day-to-day metropolis services.The city of Oakland atomic number 20 jail was closed on July 1, 2005. One year new-mader, the verdict is in closing the jail was a dumb move.It appears that at that place argon much unfavorable consequences to this city initiative than favorable ones. Hence, the aim of this research proposal is to study the effect or the impact of the resolve of the Oakland urban center jail on communities within the city.Some news items spicylighting abomination statistics that film occurred in the urban center of Oakland atomic number 20 were ga at that placed to serve as primary materials for this undertaking. For example, Rape was up nearly 12 percentage car thefts and burglaries up nearly 30 percent robbery up 18 percent some(a) of it in neighborhoods non accustomed to crime, reports first rudiment 7 News (6/12/06)Oaklands murder rate is rising five times faster than the region at large, (ABC 7 News, 6/12/06) and In Oakland, a city of 400,000, the death rate is 25.6 per 100,000 people, four times superiorer than the study rate of 6.1, according to the Alameda Country humanity Health division report (Mamberto, October 2, 2006) argon indicative of something undesirable are happing in the area.This research paper catch up with out seek the affirmation or override of this hypothesis statementThe reduction of the Oakland Police Department Fiscal Year budget for Fiscal Year 2005-2007 resulting in the closure of the city jail and ulterior elimination of 89 full-time positions has negative impact on the communitys safety.A correlation of the In capable Variable and Dependent Variable ordain be desig ned and structured accordingly from which conclusions forget be derived from.Appropriate statistical tools, like, sampling techniques, hypothesis testing, measurement of central tendency, descriptive statistics, probability statistics, illative statistics, among other, will be used. Data sh in all come from these sources (1) natures of the Oakland Police Department (OPD) (2) relevant literature, like, news items from TV, radio and print media (3) periodicals and (4) hearings.Introduction One year ago, on July 1, 2004, the Oakland City council closed the city jail. It was labeled a budget-cutting move, for an estimated saving of no more than than $3 million per year. A year later, the council just finished spending a $16 million budget surplus. Oakland lost a facility permanently on the basis of fluctuating budget numbers.The jail closure has further spirited law of nature work. OPD officers tell usThe processing time to put a detained or arrested psyche into the jail has mo re than doubled from 20 minutes to 45 minutes. In effect, the already understaffed plane section has lost a nonher several police officers.Criminals are now taken to the Countys Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility, but the sheriffs there are not happy about the increased workload. They use various legal excuses that force Oakland to take the criminal all the way out to the Santa Rita jail.When Oakland had a jail, prisoners with minor health issues could be kept there and provided health care. Without a jail, the County pushes the prisoners to Highland Hospital, where Oakland police must guard them for hours or days.In an interview of some local residents, for example, a 20-year resident of 14th Ave. and E. 27th said she never experienced or witnessed any blood-red crimes until October of 2005she witnessed a man stabbed to death in front of her kin another interviewee, a 15-year resident of Grand Street, said his house was burglarized on July 2006 for the first time and a calendar mo nth later his neighbor was robbed at gun point in front of his house. These incidents are no ordinary occurrences in a community whose people expect continued and durable peace and order as well as universal safety.The closure of the Oakland City jail and the resultant elimination of 89 OPD personnel, it seems, have something to do with this ostensible serious problem besetting Oakland City today that threatens the social and emotional well macrocosm of its residents and visitors.Where are the city council members today who do the decision to close the city jail? Are they informed about or are they reading what are trumpeted by media outlets? Do they arguingen to affected local residents? Have they know the consequences of their decision lately? Do they have corrective plans to address the apparently undesirable results of their group decision?Literature Review The news items and results of personal interview of Oakland residents pertaining to the closure of the Oakland City jail will serve as initial sources of research development. Following are summaries of literature review for this undertaking (see complete literature in Appendix A and Appendix B).KTVU Channel (11/22/06) carries a report of tough crime rise of 34.2% in 2006.Oakland city still ranks high in crime category, reports CRIME (n.d.). This same media reports 132 murders committed as of November 2006 by an average age of 28 days old. The rate of killings increased to 21% from 94 in 2005 compared to 88 in 2004 and volume of the crimes being committed occur in the East and West parts of the city. ABC 7 News (July 11) besides reports worrying crime occurrences in Oakland having a soaring murder rate thats almost double the number of homicides right now compared to this time remainder year. And this demography can reach a triple digit rate by end of the year, if authorities do not start to act today. at that place is a stark difference of killings this timevictims are younger and their lives were pluck cold-bloodedly along populated alleys of the city. offence statistics have now reached the attention of national level with the involvement of FBI authoritiesthis development maybe reassuring to some but the other side of the fence confirms something ugly about the situation. Another ABC 7 News (6/12/06) circulates a headline about Oaklands rising murder rate to be five times faster than the country at large. The reason attributed in the big jump in murder is readily available handguns, gang and drug activity and disrespect for life. Whats adventure? Another disturbing information spread by the media is about rape. This time, it is up nearly 12 percent. Although Oakland police establishment is trying to do something to at to the lowest degree contain the alarming situation including saturating high crime neighborhoods, but the prospect of effective prevention is far from reality.North Gate News (October 2, 2006), likewise, has another corroborating trading floor for the day. Victims are relatively young individuals in their early adulthood of 20 to 24 and victims were identified to be African Americans. There is something contemptible about the figures reported, like, 45% of the offenders were actually under the care of the criminal justice system either on parole or probation when the murder occurred. And why 80% of violent crimes in the county occur in Oakland or to Oakland residents? Killings in the area keep rising. And what is really alarming to peace-loving residents of Oakland is the admission that Were in the middle of a public health crisis here . . .These news items have one thing in common emphasis on the increasing crime rate in Oakland City after the closure of the city jail. Relevant books, magazines, and professional journals are considered to be reviewed for this research work, too.Methodologies Crime-related research information will be collected from OPD records for the period January 1, 2003 up to December 31, 2005. T hese crime-related data will be classified and their occurrences will be tabulated statistically using applicable statistical tools, like, descriptive statistics, measurement of central tendency, among other. Statistics made by other entities will be considered and, thus, are planned to be gathered accordingly. A survey of residents in a West Oakland area is consideredthe data to be gathered will be pertaining to their feelings of security and insecurity as well as safety in their area stimulated by new-made rise of criminality which is hypothesized to be the result of the closure of the city jail.A specific methodology on (1) how the research questions are studied, (2) how existing data will be used, (3) how new data generated by the researcher will be incorporated to existing data, (4) how the primary research will be brought to the study, (5) how survey data will be used, and (6) how a sample population will be used, will be developed accordingly prior to the commencement of the research work.A correlation between the free-living variable and dependent variable (see below) will be designed and structured accordingly from which conclusion will be derived.The independent variable the Oakland Police Departments Fiscal Year 2005-2007 budget reduction and subsequent elimination of 89 full-time positions (see get across 1) gave rise to the dependent variableThe dependent variable a negative effect on the communitys safety.The expected or hypothesized negative impact of the closure of the city jail will be measured through the responses of respondents in a survey about their perceptions on the matter. On the other hand, the communitys safety will also be measured in the same manner as the former through survey made on the residents in which crime statistics are prevalent. submit 1. Full Time Equivalent Position EliminatedTitle/Position digit1.Watch correction Officer supervisor52. approach correction officer13.Control desk14.Public Representative Service15.Pr operty Correction Officer36.Admitting27. stem Correction Officer38.Search49.Print Room (1)310.Print Room (2)311.Watch Correction Officer312.Assistant Watch213.Booking Correction Officer314.1st Floor315.2nd Floor3616.Jail Kitchen staffs1217.Jail Utility Workers4Total Full Time Equivalent Position Eliminated89Results and Findings Table 2 shows an annual data sheet that will be used to capture data from OPD. Table 2.1 is a data sheet that will be used to capture data from OPD which is related to Table 2. Table 3 is a survey question that will capture the individual perceptions of respondents about the effect of the closure of the city jail in their area. Table 4 shows a survey question that will capture the individual perceptions of respondents how they are affected emotionally by the perceive rise of criminality in the area. The data classifications shown below are not limited in themselves, i.e., other data structures are considered upon the approval of the final research proposal.T able 2. Annual data sheet (data to be obtained from OPD)MeasuresMetrics from which data are derivedData obtained from OPD(Year 2003)Data obtained from OPD(Year 2004)Data obtained from OPD(Year 2005)(Research) just processing time to put a detained or arrested person into jail (minutes/arrest) minutes45 minutes minutesAverage number of criminals taken to the Countys Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility (/per month) per month per month per monthAverage number of criminals taken to Sta. Rita Jail per month per month per month per monthAverage number of prisoners brought to Highland Hospital per month per month per month per monthAverage number of guards assigned to guard prisoners brought to Highland Hospital per month per month per month per monthTable 2.1 Monthly data sheet (data to be obtained from OPD)Metrics from which data are derivedYears, 2003, 2004, 2005TotalAve.JFMAMJJASONDAverage processing time to put a detained or arrested person into jail (minutes/arrest)Number of criminals t aken to the Countys Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility (/per month)Number of criminals taken to Sta. Rita Jail per monthNumber of prisoners brought to Highland Hospital per monthNumber of guards assigned to guard prisoners brought to Highland Hospital per monthTable 3. accompany question on perception of the effect of the closure of the City JailSurvey questionYESNONOT SUREDo you think the closure of the Oakland City jail is the main cause of the rise of criminality in the area?Table 4. Survey question on how the emotional effect of the perceived rise of criminality in the areaSurvey QuestionNot affected at allMildly affected but do not feel afraidReasonably affected that I feel afraid being victimizedAffected that I feel constantly afraid being victimizedVery affected that it makes me feel nervous most of the timeHow much are you affected, emotionally (e.g., afraid that I will become a victim of crime) by the rise of criminality in the area?Conclusions and Recommendations After the completion of the planned activities for the research work and the consolidation of all pertinent information that made up this research, the manner of reporting the research findings and conclusion will be given special consideration considering the contents and scope of the undertaking. After submitting my veritable research work to my professor, I plan to discuss the results with county officials of Oakland California and hope to be able to convince concerned local county officials to support my recommendation for the reinstatement of the Oakland city jail to its former stature.Appendices The Appendices section will contain graphs and other objects that are integral part of the research. In this Research Proposal, Appendix A contains a list of literature (news items pertaining to the city of Oakland jail closure) while Appendix B contains the results of my personal interview of some of the residents of Oakland city.APPENDIX A List of Literature (News Items) Pertaining to the Ci ty of Oakland California Jail ClosureKTVU Channel 2 news11/22/06 reported that violent crimes rise 34.2% this yearSummary of Part 1 Crime Offenses, 2003 2005YearMurderForcibleRapeRobberyFelonyAssaultBurglaryTotalLarcenyAutoTheftTotalOffenses1 Year% Change20031092672,4452,7624,56812,5515,51128,213-5.56%2004822622,1902,6164,32410,9846,87727,335-3.11%2005932932,5902,5435,6467,087882127,073-0.96%www.oaklandnet.comCRIMEwww.wikepedia.orgThough substantial gains have been made as evidenced from the Uniform Crime Reports published by the FBI, the city still ranks high in California for most categories of crime. In the 2006 Morgan Quitno crime rankings, Oakland is ranked the eighth most dangerous city nationwide. Though it fared better than the California cities of Richmond, and San Bernardino, Oakland is the second most dangerous in California after Compton. As of November 2006, Oakland had 132 murders, with the majority of victims and/or murderers from an African American background and t he average age being 28 eld old. 14The murder rate increased 21% from only 94 murders in 2005, compared to 88 murders in 2004 being the lowest number down from 108 killings in 2003. The yesteryear few years into the millennium saw the lowest amount of murders, compared to the 1990s when there were known to be an average of 160 murders in Oakland each year.15 The majority of the crimes being committed occur in the East and West parts of the city.ABC 7 NEWSOaklands Murder Rate Is Soaring virtually Double Last Year At Same TimeBy Vic LeeJuly 11 KGO Oakland is dealing with a soaring murder rate thats almost double the number of homicides right now compared to this time last year.Unless police can slow down the murder spike, the city could face a triple digit murder rate by the end of the year.The graveyard display next to this church is sobering testimony.There may be more murders, but the profiles of both suspects and victims and the way they die have changed little.The killers and those killed are usually young African American men and the victims last breaths were taken mostly on sidewalks.Off. Roland Holmgren, Oakland police spokesman Most of our homicides happen on the streets and most of our homicides happen due to a gun.Behind the trigger? The usual causes. Drugs and gangs.This year, the face of those gangs is changing.Lt. Ersie Joyner, Oakland police homicide Hispanic gangs are up 20 to 25 percent. The victims are also young male Hispanics.In 1992, homicides reached record levels in Oakland.By July of that year, 106 people had been murdered, up more than 40 percent from the previous year.City officials considered drastic measures like curfews, street barricades and check points.The FBI and the state attorney general sent help to Oakland police.Likewise, federal narcotics agents have now joined forces with Oakland police who are now targeting high crime areas.Off. Roland Holmgren, Oakland police spokesman This strategic area command gives command the fl exibility to move officers throughout the city to attack hot spots.That strategy appears to be paying off with other crimes like rapes and domestic violence.Police have a problem in solving these crimes, which is common in other cities as well, and thats the reluctance of witnesses to come forward.The city of Oakland is just 23 shy of last years record for the entire year.ABC 7 News6/12/06Oaklands murder rate is rising five times faster than the country at large.Whats the reason for the big jump in murder? Law enforcement cites readily available handguns, gang and drug activity and disrespect for life.Other crimes in Oakland showed big increases too. Rape was up nearly 12 percent car thefts and burglaries up nearly 30 percent robbery up 18 percent some of it in neighborhoods not accustomed to crime.Oakland police are trying a number of different strategies to fight crime including saturating high crime neighborhoods with police as they did this weekend.North Gate News Online Repor ting by the UC Berkeley Graduate School of JournalismMurders Go Up and Oakland Tries to Understand WhyBy Carola Mamberto , October 2, 2006 0956 AMOAKLAND As murders continue to plague the streets of Oakland Most killings took place in the West Oakland and Elmhurst neighborhoods, and often did not have a known motive, although the police department believes they were mainly gang-related.The highest rate of murders was among 20 to 24 year olds.Victims were mainly African American (77%), as were suspects (63%).The average age of suspects was 28 years. The majority of them were not utilise anywhere 45% were actually under the care of the criminal justice system either on parole or probation when the murder occurred.Violent homicide and felo-de-se take the lives of more than 50,000 people in the United States each year, and are the third and fourth leading causes of death for people under 39 years of age.In Oakland, a city of 400,000, the death rate is 25.6 per 100,000 people, four times higher than the national rate of 6.1, according to the Alameda Country Public Health Department report.More than 80% of violent crimes in the county occur in Oakland or to Oakland residents.Murders are up 21% from last year so far there have been 20 more killings in the city compared to September 2005.Were in the middle of a public health crisis here, its very pregnant that we look at the problem in a more comprehensive way and start addressing the root causes of violence rather than its consequences, said Beyers.Its all about thinking of it as a preventable disease, he said.So far, the City of Oakland has adopted a mixed strategy to curb violence, combining rowdy enforcement with more prevention-oriented projects.In 2004, voters passed the Measure Y which sought $19.9 million a year for crime prevention, parolee jobs, youth programs and 63 new police officers, all paid through increased parking fees and a 10-year annual parcel tax.The measure is still far from being implem ented, city officials say, mainly because of staff shortages, curiously within the Oakland Police Department.This summer, as murder rates spiraled, police unveiled a plan to trace the citys 100 most violent residents.APPENDIX B Results of Personal Interview with Local Residents of Oakland City (A Prime Research Data)Following are the results of my personal interview with some of the local residents of Oakland City, CaliforniaMr. Yoichai who is a formal prison guard expressed anger over the closed of the jail, as a result of the closure he lost his job.Mr. one thousand & Mr. Bunger who were Correction Officers that lost their job as a result of the jail closure. These two gentlemen explains that as the result of the jail closure, not enough officers patrolling the streets because most officers are spending a lot of time on the freeway stuck in traffic ( during heavy traffic hour) trying to transport arresters to the Alameda County Jail.Once they get their they have to await longer than the Oakland City Jail. Investigators have to go all the way to the County Jail to interview inmates versus where they can just walk to the Oakland City Jail and get it done quicker and more convenience. Also the cost of gas, wear & tear of vehicles and overtime pay for those officers who get stuck on freeway and for officers who have to stay late or come in early while other officers are stuck on freeway.Mrs. Lauder who lives in 14th Ave and E. 27th for 20+ years and never experience or witness and violent crimes until October of 2005. She witnessed a man was stabbed to death in front of her house.Mr. Pardoza who lives on Grand Street for 15+ years his house for the first time was burglarized on July 2006 and a month later his neighbor was robbed at gun point in front of his houseBibliographyABC 7 News (6/12/06).Bennis, W. (1989). On Becoming a Leader. Reading, MA Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.Bowerman, B. L. & OConnell, R. T. (2003). Business Statistics In Practice. (3rd Ed.). Boston McGraw-Hill.Brill, P. L. & Worth, R. (1997). The Four Levers of Corporate Change. New York American Management Association (AMACOM).Cohen, A. (1993). The Portable MBA in Management. New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc.CRIME. www.wikepedia.orgJuran, J. M. & Godfray, A. B. (Eds.) (1999). Jurans Quality Handbook. (5th Ed.) New York McGraw-Hill.KTVU Channel (11/22/06). 2 news reported that violent crimes rise 34.2% this year. www.oaklandnet.com.Lee, V. (July 11, 2006). 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