Jackson Free Press

The Jackson Police Department and office of Mayor Tony Yarber are making no bones about the fact that the city's posture toward fighting crime will be increased police visibility, more police contact and, subsequently, more citations and arrests. The goal, it seems, is clear: Make people worry enough about running afoul of the law, and they'll think twice about dealing drugs or walking around with goals.

Around the country, we've seen several cities employ similar methods. In New York City, the police force of Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani stressed "quality of life" policing—coming down hard on people for committing little crimes like littering and jaywalking.

That led the NYPD and other big cities to reason that stopping, questioning and sometimes patting down people in supposed high-crime areas, would also deter crime. Whether those programs have been successful depends on who you ask and their philosophy on the role of police.

Some experts credit stop-and-frisk with a marked decline in major crime in New York City. Others, who understand that desperate people with limited employment prospects are most likely to participate in crime, say it was an improved economy that helped lower the crime rate. Adding more doubt to the practice, similar crime drops occurred in cities that didn't use the policy.

Still, others point to the disparate impact of stop-and-frisk on young men of color—emblematic of a form of discrimination that the U.S. Constitution prohibits—as the most worrisome part of the policy. Those worries are still being sorted out by the courts, and may wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court before long.

In the meantime, it's apparent that citizens of Jackson will be stopped and questioned with more frequency and see more police roadblocks around town. But citizens still have rights.

Here are some things people should know in case they encounter law enforcement, from the American Civil Liberties Union.

—You have the right to remain silent. If you wish to exercise that right, say so out loud.

—You have the right to refuse to consent to a search of yourself, your car or your home.
 —If you are not under arrest, you have the right to calmly leave.

—You have the right to a lawyer if you are arrested. Ask for one immediately.

—Regardless of your immigration or citizenship status, you have constitutional rights.

The ACLU also stresses that individuals should remain calm and polite, be truthful and not interfere with police activities. When stopped, people can ask if they are free to leave and, if so, they should walk away calmly.

If the police arrest you, you have a right to know why. Although you are not required to consent to a search, an officer may pat you down if they suspect a weapon. Even then, you have the right to refuse any further searches.

For more information about what do if you're stopped or arrested, visit the ACLU's website at aclu.org.