Know about your Right - On your rights if arrested

Arrest of a person

A person is arrested when a police officer or a citizen takes him into custody or otherwise substantially deprives him of his freedom of action so that he may be held to answer for a crime or an offence. The police in India do not have any power to detain anybody for questioning unless he

is arrested with or without warrant.

Warrant of Arrest

It is a written order issued by a Court to a police officer to arrest and produce an offender or to search his premises for a particular thing. A police officer who executes the warrant shall notify the substance thereof to the person to be arrested and if he demands, shall show him the warrant. He is expected to bring the required person before the Court without unnecessary delay.

Valid Warrant

A warrant of arrest should be (i) in writing (ii) signed by the presiding officer of the Court and (iii)should bear the seal of the Court. It should also contain the name of the accused, his address and indicate the offence with which he is charged. If any of these factors is absent, the warrant is not in order and an arrest made in execution of such a warrant is illegal. Warrants are of two kinds:

i) Bailable

ii) Non-Bailable

A bailable warrant is a Court's order which contains a direction that if the person arrested executes a bail with sufficient sureties for his attendance before the Court, he may be released from custody. In that case it shall further state the number of sureties, the amount of the bond, and the time for attending the Court. (Section 71 Cr.P.C.) In case of a non-bailable warrant the direction for bail will not be endorsed on the warrant.

Arrest without Warrant

A police officer has power to arrest a person without warrant if he is suspected of having committed a cognizable offence. Normally in non-cognizable offences a police officer cannot arrest a person without a warrant from a Magistrate.

In the first Schedule of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C.) offences have been classified and enumerated as cognizable and non-cognizable. The more serious offences such as murder, rape, robbery, theft, waging war against the State etc. are cognizable.

When can a person be arrested without a warrant?

A person can be arrested without a warrant:

1. If he is concerned in a cognizable offence or if there is a reasonable suspicion, complaint or information that he has committed a cognizable offence;

2. If he possesses implements of house breaking;

3. If he possess stolen property;

4. If he is proclaimed an offender;

5. It he obstructs a police officer on duty'

6. If he escapes from a legal custody;

7. It he is a deserter from the army, navy or airforce;

8. Where he is out of India, if he commits an offence punishable under any extradition law or under the Fugitive Offenders Act;

9. If he is released convict who breaks the restrictions imposed by the Court on his movements;

10. If he is suspected of preparing to commit a cognizable offence;

11. If he is habitual criminal;

12. If he, after committing a non-cognizable offence in the presence of a police officer, refuses to give the police his name and address or has given him a false name and address;

13. If he is required by a police officer of another police station who suspects that he has committed a cognizable offence;

How is Arrest made?

Arrest is complete when there is submission to custody by word or action, and in such a case touching or confining of the body of the person arrested is not necessary, but mere surrounding of a person by the police does not amount to arrest. (Section 46).

What happens if you resist arrest?

If you forcibly resist arrest, the police officer can use all means necessary to effect the arrest. (Sec.46). He can even cause your death provided you are charged with an offence punishable with death or me imprisonment. However, he is not justified in using force more than necessary to obtain the arrest (Sec.46). Therefore, unnecessary restraints or causing physical inconveniences tying of hands and feet are not permissible if there is no necessity for doing so.

What are your rights when you are arrested?

If you are arrested:

1. You must be informed of the reasons for your arrest (Fundamental Rights : Article 22 and Sec.50 Cr.P.C.)

2. You have a right to see the warrant if you are arrested under warrant (Sec.75 Cr.P.C.)

3. You have a right to consult a lawyer of your choice. (Fundamental Rights: Article 22 of the Constitution);

4. You must be produced before the nearest Magistrate within 24 hours (Fundamental Rights: Article 22 of the Constitution);

5. You must be told whether you are entitled to be released on bail. (Sec.50 Cr.P.C.)

Can you be handcuffed?

According to the latest ruling of the Supreme Court, normally an arrested person should not be handcuffed unless he is violent or he is desperate character or he is likely to attempt to escape or to commit suicide. Arrest is not a punishment. Hence unnecessary restraints are not permissible, if there is no necessity for doing so.

Search of a place entered by a person sought to be arrested

Sec.47 of Cr.P.C. compels all persons to afford to the police facilities for search in a place for a person sought to be arrested. Police officers have power to break open any door or window to carry out a search and to liberate himself or any person who is detained inside a premises.

Search of an arrested person

A Police officer has the right to search a person only after he is arrested. After the search the police officer must keep in safe custody all the articles taken from the person and give him a receipt for the same. A search of an arrested female should be done with strict regard to decency. A woman can be searched only by another women. (Sec.51)

Examination of arrested person by medical practitioner

A police officer not below the rank of a sub-Inspector may require an arrested person to be medically examined if he feels that this may provide evidence to prove the offence. (Sec.53)

• He may use reasonably necessary force to have the medical examination performed;

• The accused person can make a request to the Magistrate that he had not committed the offence.(Sec.54);

• A woman has a right to demand that she be examined by a woman doctor. (Sec. 53 A(2), 54);

• In case of torture in police custody, this provision of law must be taken advantage of and the victim should demand in the Court that he be medically examined to prove torture by the police.

Detention of an arrested person

Article 22 (2) of the Constitution lays down that every person who is arrested and detained in custody should be produced before the nearest Magistrate within a period of 24 hours of such arrest exclusive of the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the Magistrate's Court. However, Sec.167 of the Cr.P.C. vests the power in the Magistrate to authorize the detention of the arrested person for more than 24 hours of the investigation cannot be completed within that period. In no circumstances can the accused be detained in custody for a moment more than twenty four hours without a special order of a Magistrate who can order his detention for a term exceeding 15 days on the whole. At the end of the 15 days he must be produced before the Magistrate. If there are adequate grounds for further detention in judicial custody (jail), he can pass an order to that effect, for a period not exceeding 15 days. But the total period of detention cannot exceed 60 days, whether the investigation of offence against him has been completed or not. The order of a Magistrate sanctioning the detention for an indefinite period is illegal. If the accused is not able to furnish bail during the stage of investigation he may be detained in judicial custody beyond 60 days. In case of a non-bailable offence the arrested person may be kept in jail until the trial is over.

Search Warrant

Search warrant is issued by the Magistrate for the following purposes:

• For the recovery of a document or thing which may not be produced in the court otherwise;

• For search of a house suspected to contain stolen property, forged documents, etc;

• Seizing any publication banned by the government;

• For discovery of a person wrongfully confined.

A search warrant gives the power to the police officer to search the required place and to seize the objectionable article known as "Mudammal". Police may use force to effect a legal entry provided that they have come, demanded entry and are unreasonably refused. The police officer executing the warrant may search any person in or about such place if that person is reasonably suspected of concealing on his person any article for which search is made. If the person to be searched is a female, then the search shall be made by another woman with the strictest possible decency.

Procedure to be followed

The officer making a search shall:

• Call upon two or more respectable residents of the locality (called Panches) to attend and witness the search. Failure to attend is an offence under Sec.187 I.P.C.

• Make the search in their presence. So, the search would be illegal if the panches: are kept outside while the search takes place inside the building;

• Make a list of all things seized and of all places in which they are found. (The list is called the panchanama);

• Get the list signed by the witnesses - Panchas

• Permit the occupant of the place to attend the search and give him a copy of the list of things signed at his request;

• Panches are not required to attend the court as witnesses unless specially summoneded by the Court.

Rights of the occupants of the premises searched

• The accused himself cannot be compelled to produce any document or property which is likely to involve him in any criminal charge. Hence police have to get a warrant issued by a Court of Law;

• The police have no general power to enter or search your premises without your consent;

• The court may specify in the warrant a particular place only to which the search will extend;

• It is important that the warrant is read and the directions are taken note of before the police are allowed to make inspection;

• If the police have no legal authority to enter your premises you can refuse the entry;

• If they have no legal authority to remain, you have a right to insist that they leave;

• If they refuse you have the legal right to use reasonable force to remove them. (Sec.97, of I.P.C.)

Bail

Bail means releasing an arrested person from legal custody until his trial. Bail gives the freedom to seek advice from friends to consult a lawyer, to trace witnesses and to collect evidence for one's defence and to continue his job. When bail is not granted, the arrested person will be on remand and will be kept in custody to facilitate the investigation and to obtain evidence. Provisions regarding bail can be classified into 2 categories: i.e.,

(1) Bailable cases

(2) Non-Bailable Cases.

Bailable Cases

In the case of bailable offences, granting of bail is a matter of legal right. This means that bail cannot be refused and shall be granted by a police officer in charge of a police station having the accused in his custody. The release may be ordered on the accused executing a bond, even without sureties.

Non-Bailable Cases

In non-bailable cases, only the Court can order release of the accused person on bail. However, if the police officer or the Magistrate is of the opinion that there is no sufficient material against the accused and that the complaint needs further investigation he may also release the accused on bail.(Sec.437 (2) Cr.P.C.). Normally bail is not granted when the accused person appears, on reasonably grounds, to be guilty of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for file. But women, children under 16, and sick people can be released on bail by a Magistrate even if charged with offences punishable with death or life-imprisonment. An accused person is entitled to be released on bail as soon as reasonable grounds for guilt cease to appear, between the close of the case and the delivery of judgement. A person released on bail may be taken into custody by an order of the Court, if his conduct subsequent to release is found to be prejudicial to a fair trial Sec.48 Cr.P.C. or if he does not observe the conditions of the bail.

Power of the Court to grant bail

The discretionary power of the Court to grant bail is judicial power and is given by established principles. Before granting bail the Court must consider the seriousness of the charge, the nature of the evidence, the severity of the punishment prescribed for the offences and in some cases the character, means and the status of the accused.

If you are arrested, how to get released immediately from police custody?

• In warrant cases, find out the directions endorsed in the warrant and execute a bond with sureties(Sec.71):

• If the offence charges is bailable and the arrest is made without warrant, ask the police officer in charge of the police station to grant you bail after executing a bond.

• The police officer has the discretion to release a person on his executing a bond without sureties. (Sec. 436 of Cr.P.C.)

• If you are not granted bail immediately you have the right to telephone your advocate, a friend or a relative. Give your advocate the names and addressed of the possible sureties. If you don't have an advocate inform your friend or relative:

• The name of the Court where you will appear;

• The time the Court starts; and request him:

• To take to the Court anyone else who is prepared to stand surety;

• To contact an advocate if possible.

If you can deal with these matters before you go to the Court, you may be saved an unnecessary remand in custody.

Granting of Bail by the Magistrate

If a person is arrested for a non-bailable offence, and there exists a reasonable ground to believe the guilt of the person, he may not be granted bail by the police officer. In such cases the accused person must give a written application to the court to grant bail. The court must grant bail unless he is charged with a crime punishable with death or life-imprisonment. In such cases only the sessions or the High Court can grant bail.

Common police objections to bail

• The accused will not appear at his trial;

• He will interfere with witnesses or material evidence;

• He will commit further offences while on bail;

• Police enquiries are not complete;

• Further charges might follow;

• Stolen properties have not been recovered;

• The co-accused are absconding;

• The weapons with which the crime was committed has not been recovered.

Normally the police make an application for the remand of the accused. In such an application they give their reasons for further detention of the accused in custody. The reasons given by the police must be refuted to the extent possible.

Application for Bail

• If the accused can afford an advocate he can make an application and represent the accused before the judge;

• If the accused cannot afford an advocate he may make a written application to the judge. For this he must get an application form from the prison staff and complete it as fully as possible giving sufficient reasons to convince the judge of the need of granting bail.

The following special grounds for release must be mentioned in the application:

• Condition and state of accommodation; whether there is a possibility of eviction in case bail is not granted;

• Whether he is likely to lose his job;

• How refusal of bail would create hardship to the dependent members of the family;

• How keeping in custody would affect the poor state of health and treatment.

Refusal of Bail by the Magistrate

If bail is refused, the Magistrate must record the reasons for the same. Such a record is necessary to make a proper appeal for bail in higher Courts.

Appeal

If application for bail is rejected by the Magistrate, the accused person can appeal to a Sessions Court or High Court. Disagreement with the objections raised by the police in granting bail or the fact of no objection raised in the Court must be incorporated in the application for bail. If one's application is rejected, one may try again in one's next Court appearance.

Conditions for Bail

The Magistrate may grant a bail:

• Without any condition

• Subject to special conditions;

• Subject to bond with or without sureties.

Special conditions usually state that the accused person must report to the police station at specified times or surrender his passport. One can challenge in a Court any unreasonable condition imposed by the Magistrate. If the Court refuses to change the conditions, the accused person can reject them. But in that case he will not be released until his appeal is heard and disposed of in his favour.

Bond and Sureties

• An accused person may be released on personal bond with or without sureties;

• Sureties are people who guarantee a sum of money for appearance of the accused in the Court on the appointed day and time.

• Those who stand as sureties must be present in the Court and if asked must guarantee the Court under oath that they are prepared to act and have sufficient funds;

• They can file affidavits before the Court stating the fact to show that they have sufficient funds to pay the surety and that they are even otherwise fit to be sureties;

• The Magistrate has the power to reject the surety without giving any reason. If the sureties are not in the Court, the arrested person will be kept in custody until the police have interviewed them and found them to be satisfactory;

• Sureties must be over 18, have a permanent address and have sufficient money to cover the amount of surety after payment of all their debts. The sureties may carry to the Court documents such as ration cards, rent receipts, provident fund slips, salary slips and income tax challans;

• The police and the Magistrate have no right to reject sureties on ground of their personal character, political opinions, criminal records or sex, unless they are professional sureties.

Bail after Conviction

If an accused person is found guilty, the Magistrate will pass the sentence after considering his past record. If the convicted person wants to appeal against his sentence in a higher court, the Court which passed the sentence must release him on bail.

• When the sentence is for imprisonment for a term net exceeding 3 years, or;

• When the offence for which the person is convicted is a bailable one and the person is already on bail. The release will be for a period that will enable the convict to present the appeal and get the orders of the appellate Court. Once a person files an appeal against his conviction, the appellate

Court may suspend the sentence and release him on bail or on personal bond.

Anticipatory Bail

When a person has reason to believe that he may be arrested for a non-bailable offence, he may apply to the High Court or to the Court of Session for a direction that in the event of such an arrest he may be released on bail. If such a person is arrested without a warrant by a police officer and if

he is prepared to give bail, he must be released on bail. In case a warrant is issued against the accused by a Magistrate, it. The purpose of the provision is to relieve a person from disgrace by being detained in jail for some days before he can apply for bail when he is implicated in a false case by a rival.

Recent Observations and Recommendations of the Supreme Court on Bail

• The Bail system prevalent in our country is oppresive and discriminatory against the poor, since the poor would not be able to furnish bail on account of their poverty. The court, by ignoring the differential capacity of the rich and the poor to furnish bail and treating them equally, produces inequality between the rich and the poor.

• The bail system should be thoroughly reformed so that it should be possible for the poor to obtain pre-trail release as easily as the rich without jeopardising the interests of justice.

• The Court and the police must abandon the antiquated practice of release only against bond with sureties, and if the accused has ties in the community and there is no substantial risk of non- appearance, he may be released on his personal bond without monetary obligation, subject to penalty in case of breach.

• The amount of bond the Court fixes to release the accused on personal bond should not be based merely on the nature of the charge but on the financial capacity of the accused and the probability of the absconding.

• When the accused is released on personal bond, the Court or the police should not insist upon inquiring into his solvency as a condition of acceptance of his personal bond.

 

 

Source: http://www.498a.org/

Aggression - An Introduction

Aggression is difficult to define, it is a complex phenomenon, and depending upon the context the term can be made to carry either positive or negative connotations, it can be attacking behaviour that may be either self-protective and self-assertive or to the infliction of injury toward oneself or toward others, to the total destruction of others. Is aggression biological determined or the product of learning and environmental influences.? This essay, will consider instinctive theory, the frustration - aggression hypothesis, and social learning theory. It should then be possible to draw a conclusion to see if any or all of the theories discussed are the cause of aggression. Brain disorders, hormonal and chemical imbalances, environmental factors, such as heat, noise, air pollution and overcrowding, although contribute to the causes of aggression will not be discussed during the course of this essay. No universally adopted definition of aggression exists, for the purpose of this discussion, the definition of Gross will be used.

Gross defines aggression as "The intentional infliction of some form of harm on others" (Gross page 444). Freud proposed that aggression is an instinctive biological urge. According to Freud this instinct, is made up of the libido (pleasure) and "Thanatos" (the death wish) (pain). This basic instinct is present in the Id from birth, at first the aggression is relatively uncontrolled, but with the development of the Ego and superego it becomes channelled into socially acceptable behaviour If these impulses are not released periodically in safe ways, they soon reach dangerous levels capable of producing acts of violence. Sometimes it is released in the form of physical or verbal abuse against another, (where the anger is displaced onto another). Sometimes the aggressive impulse is turned inward and produces self - punishment action, even suicide. The best that can be hoped for, according to Freud, is that aggressive impulses will be "channelled into socially acceptable forms." such as football, sport etc. (Bernstein et al page 715). However, this theory does not explain why some people are aggressive and others are not, and if aggression is dissipated into sport, why is there football violence and violence at other sporting events?

Lorenz, like Freud believed that aggressive energy builds up in the individual, and eventually has to be discharged in some way. Lorenz's states that aggression is the "fighting instinct" in man, and that man is naturally aggressive. This instinct developed during the course of evolution because it yielded many benefits, for example, fighting serves to disperse populations over a wide area, ensuring maximum use of resources. "Such behaviour often helps to strengthen genetic make-up of a species by assuring that only the strongest individuals manage to reproduce", ( Baron/Byrne page 328). This fighting instinct is both present in man and animals, and that aggression in animals is do with 'Ritualization and appeasement' and through these rituals and series of appeasements animals avoid destroying each other, but aggression in humans, is 'no longer under the control of rituals, and it has become distorted in man" (Gross page 445). However nearly all the evidence of Lorenz's theory comes from research with animals, and many psychologist "doubt whether the results apply to humans, because in the animal world instinct plays a more significant role than with humans". ( Berstein et al page 716). Further It is generally agreed by looking at present day Eskimos, Pygmies, and Aborigines, that man is a 'hunter - gatherer'. and that there is a powerful human tendency to cooperate which is a legacy from our ancient hunting past, when we had to co-operate or starve. People then lived in small tribal groups, were warfare did not exists, there were no armies, and if conflict did occur, from time to time, casualties would be avoided or limited. Mead argues that man is "not naturally aggressive" and points out many societies, such as the Apraesh of New Guinea where 'aggression is rare, and "peaceful coexistence and cooperation is the norm" (Bernstein page 715) Megargee (1966) , supported the theories of Freud and Lorenz, Megargee reported that studies of "people who commit brutal aggressive crimes, are often over-controlled individuals, who repress the anger and over a period of time the pressure to be aggressive builds up". (Gross page 450). Support for instinct theory has also come from Psychologist who study serial killers, they believe that there is genetic pre-disposition to be aggressive, and combined together with other factors, can aggravate a pre-disposition to violent aggressive behaviour. The psychologist also pointed out, that more evidence for this theory comes from studies of twins reared together or apart, which suggest that there may be a genetic link to aggression in humans.

Other psychologist emphasized frustration as a potent cause of why individuals are aggressive. Dollard and Miller developed a "frustration - aggressive hypothesis" they put forward the view that aggression was an inevitable consequence of frustration. The 'occurrence of aggressive behaviour always presupposes the existence of frustration and the existence of frustration always leads to some form of aggression' If an individual is prevented from reaching a goal, they are frustrated by not getting something they want, or suffers "deprivation" where something they want is taken away from them, they will experience an increase in aggression(Hardy/Heyes page 171). This view has been criticized, psychologist point out that it does not explain aggressive behaviour in all circumstances. Frustrated individuals do not always respond with aggressive action, they may show "resignation and despair" (Baron/Byrne page 329), and there are many occasions when aggressive behaviour can be explained more by a breakdown in social norms.

Berkowitz suggested "external conditions, serve to arouse a strong motive to engage in harm producing behaviour," (Baron/Byrne page 329) and that frustration produces not aggression, but a "readiness to respond aggressively". Once this readiness exists, cues in the environment, that are associated with aggression, will often lead a frustrated person to behave aggressively. "Cues such as guns, knives, violent television scenes. Neither the frustration alone or the cues alone are sufficient to set off aggression, but when combined however, they do." Berkowitz went on to say that "unexpected failure at some task tends to create a more intense negative reaction then a failure that is expected". Support for Berkowitz theory is very strong. Studies have found that "frustration may facilitate aggression. and experiments have supported this"(Berstein et al page 718). On the other hand, several experiments have reported that frustration sometimes may actually tend to reduce the level of aggression shown by the individual. Existing evidence points to the conclusion that whether frustration increases or fails to enhance aggression, depends on whether the frustration is intense and whether the aggression is seen as 'just' or 'illegitimate'. However, few researchers currently hold the view that "frustration always leads to aggression", frustration is simply one of many different causes of aggression (Baron/Byrne page 329).

When you look at the frustration hypothesis, it seems that practically any incident of aggression can be ascribed to frustration of acquisitiveness or "assertiveness. Gentry 1970 said that "frustration does not always produce aggression, sometimes it produces depression and withdrawal, and not all aggression is preceded by frustration" ( Berstein et al page 718) According to Leaky and Lewis (1977), "cultural influences are far more important determinants of human aggression than biological factors." Any potential for aggression that man has, is "culturally overridden and re-packaged into behaviour which fits current circumstances. In most cases, cultural forces teach or support non-aggression, but when pro-social aggression is necessary (disciplining children, and wrong doers,) cultural process teach and sustain it" (Gross page 446).

Bandura, Baron, and Zillmann argue that aggressive behaviour is a "learned form of social behaviour, acquired and maintained" in much the same manner as other forms of social activity. (Baron/Byrne page 362) Elicitors of aggression such as personal insults, status threats, and the presence of weapons are all learned sources of aggressive behaviour. Many responses are learned by watching others, further, aggressive actions are often followed by rewards and are therefore likely to be repeated. Bandura said that children were capable of learning aggressive behaviour as a result of being exposed to it, because children tend to imitate what they see. Bandura exposed school children to a film of an adult behaving aggressively toward an inflated doll, ( "Bobo Doll ") Following exposure the children tended to imitate the aggressive behaviour. These finding, Bandura believed, showed that young children learn to be aggressive against others, and that aggressive acts would be imitated. In contrast, critics pointed out, Bandura's experiments were too artificial, that the Bobo Doll was designed specifically to be hit and that the children were aware of this, so maybe they were just expressing the behaviour that was expected of them. Although Bandura was has been criticized, his findings has led to considerable research into the influence of violence in the mass media, especially television, on promoting aggressive behaviour, and there is a growing body of research evidence which indicates that watching violent television is linked to increased tendencies towards subsequent aggression.

Support for the modelling and imitation theory comes from Patterson (1976) who found that "aggressive behaviour is frequently reinforced in the home". (Biechker/Hudson page 415) A young child who finds that anger and aggression are more effective in gaining what they want and which can enable them to control resources such as toys and parental attention, is having his aggression reinforced. Further, "aggressive parents who discipline with physical force act as models for their children and are likely to encourage aggression in their children towards other people" (Hardy/Heyes page 163). Children learn aggression by observing others behave aggressively, and this is supported by a recent national survey by the N.C.H. Action For Children which found that in families where there has been domestic violence, children imitate the aggression they witness between their parents, and "33 per cent of children in homes where the father was violent, became aggressive towards their mothers themselves"

To summarise, ethologists treat aggression as an evolutionary determined instinct, which was necessary for survival. The frustration-aggression model looks beyond the individual, seeing the tension as being triggered by factors in the environment which prevent the individuals attempts to reach a goal. Both the instinctive and the frustration -aggression models suggest that it is something about the individuals psychological make-up which causes aggression, and individual aggressive impulses are triggered by personality dynamics, such as ego, need or frustration, and in which the aggressive drives/impulses build up, and must be dissipated in some way. On the other hand, Social learning theorist view aggressive acts as responses learned through observations and imitation of others and by positive reinforcement for the behaviour. Also, mans cultural heritage and his experience of socialization, and the many traits or characteristics possed by the individual is an important factor in determining his aggressive behaviour.

In conclusion, the reason as to why the individual is aggressive, has many possible sources. It has been suggested that aggression springs from basic drives. However, there is little evidence that supports the catharsis view, that aggression depends on a build up of energy which must be released in some way. On the other hand, there is a large body of research evidence that supports the view that exposure to aggressive models can stimulate similar behaviour among observers. People who behave aggressively act as aggressive models, and through such action can influence others to act in a similar manner. So it can be seen, that there are views that point towards a pre-disposition towards aggression, while others would indicate either frustration, or a learned form of behaviour as to the cause of aggression. It is proposed, that it is more likely that an individual will be aggressive if all of these criteria are met to some degree or other, however, the greater emphasis should be placed upon learnt behaviour. It would seem strange if we, unlike all other mammals, were not genetically equipped to defend ourselves or our children when under attack, and it would be surprising if we lacked the urge to assert ourselves to some degree in competitive social situations. However, the claim that for man all is learned and nothing is genetically inherited, gives the impression that society can be moulded into any shape and a human being is merely a blank canvas in which anything could be written upon.. In answer to the question, why are individuals aggressive? It is clear that there is no single cause as to why an individual is aggressive, many factors contribute to the occurrence of aggression and that aggressive behaviour has multiple, interlinked causes.

Writing a Success Story - Introduction

A success story shows Extension making a difference in people’s lives. More than a list of events or activities, it describes a positive change and shows how that change benefits the target people. A success story is the successful – favourable or desired result or outcome of a program. A good success story uses evidence from evaluation to show the value of Extension.

Success story is about an entire program or part of a program that is particularly noteworthy and significant. It may be about an innovation, emergency response or outstanding effort. The program may be complete or in an earlier stage of development but with important accomplishments to describe. A success story could be written even after several years after a program’s completion with the collected evidence of long-term impact. For a multi-year initiative, a series of success stories may be written that describe significant but different changes that occur over the years.

 

Why do we need a success story?

 

Sharing the achievements as the program progresses will put the project implementers in an advantageous position when policymakers or other stakeholders make decisions that affect their program. The more educated they are about the project implementers program’s goals, activities, and successes, the more likely they are to support the program.

• To show accountability for public funds
• To verify that we are using resources to make a positive difference in people’s lives
• To share successes so individuals in and out of Extension can learn from our results
• To spread the word about Extension as a valuable resource
• To show that numbers alone don’t tell the whole story of Extension
• To reflect and learn from our work
• To practice good scholarship

 

Formatting the Success Story:

 

Using the criteria listed below, the success story could be developed:

Title

• Capture the overall message of the story
• Include an action verb
• Capture the reader’s attention.

Problem Overview (Situation)

• Describe the problem being addressed and why it’s important
• Use data to frame the problem, including health burden and economic costs
• Specify the affected population(s)

Program/Activity Description (Response)

• Identify who was involved, including your partners
• Describe the program/activity that was implemented, including where and when it took place and how it addressed the problem
• Identify the target audience of the program/activity
• Describe how the progress of the program/activity was evaluated
• State how the funding agency support contributed to the program/activity

Program/Activity Outcomes (Results)

• Identify the short-term or intermediate outcomes that demonstrate how the program/activity addressed the problem
• Provide a conclusion to the success story that avoids using broad, sweeping statements such as “There was a noticeable increase in healthy eating habits.” 

 

Additional Information (Evidence)

 

The following details should be included along with the above given information:

• Name of the agency.
• Name and credentials of program contact.
• Address, e-mail address, and telephone numbers.
• Organization’s Web site address (if available).
• Any other supporting materials you wish to share, such as testimonials, quotes from partners/participants, samples of materials produced, press releases, promotional materials, project photos, video/audio clips, etc.

The type of outcomes achieved by a program may vary depending on the stage and maturity of the program. Sometimes a success story is a “work in progress.” Consider updating or enhancing your story as new information and outcome data become available.

 

What makes a good success story?

 

A good success story:

• Describes results that are valued by clients
• Contains compelling, significant facts
• Catches your attention
• Tells who benefits
• Answers: “So what?”
• Spells out Extension’s role in achieving results
• Is easy to read and understand
• Identifies key partners and funders

 

When do you submit success stories?

 

• When you have something significant to report and evaluation data to back it up
• When you are proud of a program or initiative
• On an on-going basis – don’t wait until the end of the year

 

Checklist for Success stories:

 

A) Situation:

• Clearly describes an important issue or concern - why we should care
• Shows that issue or need is appropriate for Extension response
• Includes data demonstrating need

B) RESPONSE (inputs and outputs)

• Spells out Extension’s role/contribution
• Identifies participants: numbers and demographics of individuals, businesses, and/or communities that were reached
• Identifies partnerships, if applicable
• Identifies funding sources, if applicable

C) RESULTS (outcomes-impact)

• Tells who benefited and how
• Uses numeric and/or narrative data to describe important outcomes
• Answers “So what?” Makes value clear to reader
• Links story to research, if appropriate
• States future plans based on results
• Shows important progress for the reporting period
• Links work across years

EVIDENCE (evaluation)

• Describes data collection method
• Includes sample (number and how selected)
• Provides response rate
• Tells when data were collected

WRITING STYLE

• Active voice
• Reads like a story
• Compelling and significant facts
• No jargon or acronyms
• Concise, complete sentences
• Names/titles, not “this agent”

Are you a Professional? - L. Ron Hubbard

Don't ever do anything as though you were an amateur. Anything you do, do it as a professional to professional standards.

If you have the idea about anything you do that you just dabble in it, you will wind up with a dabble life. There'll be no satisfaction in it because there will be no real production you can be proud of.

Develop the frame of mind that whatever you do, you are doing it as a professional and move up to professional standards in it.

Never let it be said of you that you lived an amateur life. Professionals see situations and they handle what they see. They are not amateur dabblers.

So learn this as a first lesson about life. The only successful beings in any field, including living itself, are those who have a professional viewpoint and make themselves and are professionals.

Excerpted from A New Slant on Life
by L. Ron Hubbard

Vacancy at MRDS

Meghalaya Rural Development Society (MRDS) a Project funded by the Govt. of Meghalaya and IFAD for the improvement of livelihood among the poor in the rural areas in the district of Meghalaya, invites application from eligible candidates for the following posts on contract basis of 1 (one) year which is extendable on a yearly basis based on performance.

1) Project Manager
2) Coordination Officer

Details and forms can be seen at MRDS website www.mrds.nic.in. Outstation candidates can send in their application through emails at mrds_pmu@yahoo.com through the prescribe format prescribed by MRDS in their website.

Last date for submission of Application Forms is 10th April 2013.

For more information regarding the postings offered and other relevant information, visit the site link - http://mrds.nic.in/advertisement_8feb2013.pdf