The previous topic was on determining if the United States should intervene when US citizens are incarcerated abroad. In this paper, the approach to being able to fully answer this question shall be discussed.
Thesis The thesis of this paper is that certain interventions can be made by the US government when it comes to know of US citizens arrested and jailed abroad, but that the US government in turn can help prevent these arrests by conducting an intensive pre-departure orientation and information campaign on all Americans slated to travel abroad. The orientation will focus mainly on the culture, the basic codes and laws and travel advisories for the various countries to which US citizens are entering.
Sources The paper will make use of sources from the US State Department for interventions. Also, for the experiences of Americans jailed abroad, online newspapers and magazines will be used as well. Information can also be taken from the popular National Geographic Show “Locked Up Abroad” in order to find some lessons learned by those American citizens who went through these harrowing experiences abroad.
The Internet would also be a good source to look for information about US citizens who were arrested abroad, and what their experiences were when they asked help from the US Embassy in the country where they were incarcerated. Were the services listed in the US State Department website exactly what were offered to them, or were there additions or less services actually offered to them? In this way one would know if there was some consistency in the services offered by the US State Department to Americans finding themselves in this predicament overseas.
Questions There are several questions that hopefully will be answered by this research:
What should an American do if he is arrested in a foreign country? What are his rights as an arrested individual in that particular country?
What are the contact agencies of the US State Department in certain countries, especially those that are heavily visited by Americans?
Are the services stated in the US State Department website for Americans arrested and jailed abroad actually the services that these individuals receive?
What are the recommendations that can be offered in order for Americans to avoid incarceration in a foreign country? What travel advice can the Consular offices provide US citizens in a certain country?
What other suggestions and preparations can be made by any American traveling abroad?
Travelling abroad – more affordable today, more places to visit, tourism industries are flourishing
Temporary Thesis – Prevention is better than finding a cure
Experiences of Americans Incarcerated Abroad
Experience I – details, insights
Experience 2 – details, insights
Experience 3- details, insights
Comparison of experiences- similarities, differences, insights, links to services offered in the website of the US State Department
Services offered by the State Department for incarcerated Americans abroad
Verification whether or not these services are what happen in actuality
Comparison between actual and stated services
Prevention Ideology
Why prevention is important
What prevention measures must be in place – actors and roles of each actor;
How to integrate all findings in a single solution
Conclusion
