Report on Law Enforcement Action in Alignment with SDG 16

Case Summary

• Incident: Homicide of Evin Paulos, age 25.
• Date of Incident: June 3, 2017.
• Location: Phoenix, Arizona.
• Suspect: Michael Arredondo.
• Status: Suspect apprehended in Mexico, extradited to the United States, and reportedly confessed to the crime.

Analysis of Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

This case demonstrates a significant advancement in achieving key targets within SDG 16. The actions taken by law enforcement agencies exemplify the international commitment to reducing violence, promoting the rule of law, and ensuring access to justice.

1. Target 16.1: Reduce Violence and Related Death Rates: The 2017 homicide represents a direct challenge to this target. The subsequent law enforcement response, culminating in the arrest of the suspect, is a critical measure in addressing such violence and holding perpetrators accountable, thereby reinforcing societal norms against violent crime.
2. Target 16.a: Strengthen Institutions and International Cooperation: The successful apprehension of the fugitive, Michael Arredondo, in Mexico was a direct result of cross-border cooperation between national authorities. This collaboration is a practical application of Target 16.a, which calls for strengthening relevant national institutions through international cooperation to prevent violence and combat crime. The extradition process from Mexico to the United States underscores the strength of these international justice frameworks.
3. Target 16.3: Promote the Rule of Law and Ensure Equal Access to Justice: The extradition and pending legal proceedings against the suspect ensure that the rule of law is upheld, irrespective of the fugitive’s attempt to flee jurisdiction. This action provides a pathway to justice for the victim, affirming the principle of equal access to justice for all and ensuring that accountability is not evaded by crossing international borders.

Conclusion

The resolution of this fugitive case serves as a compelling example of SDG 16 in action. Through effective international cooperation and a commitment to strong institutional processes, authorities have successfully advanced the goals of reducing violence, promoting justice, and upholding the rule of law. This outcome contributes to building more peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The primary Sustainable Development Goal connected to the issues in the article is:

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. This goal aims to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.” The article’s focus on a violent crime (murder), the subsequent police action, and international cooperation to bring a fugitive to justice directly relates to the core principles of SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article, the following specific targets under SDG 16 can be identified:

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article describes a murder, stating that “25-year-old Evin Paulos was found stabbed to death.” This is a direct example of the violence and death that this target aims to reduce. The law enforcement response to the crime is part of the institutional effort to address and deter such violence.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The entire process described—from identifying a suspect to apprehending him across an international border (“arrested in Mexico”) and bringing him back for legal proceedings (“extradited… brought back to Phoenix”)—is a clear demonstration of the rule of law in action. It represents the effort to provide justice for the victim of the crime.
   • Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, to build capacity at all levels… to prevent violence and combat… crime. The article explicitly highlights international cooperation between law enforcement agencies. The fact that a fugitive wanted in Phoenix was “found south of the border” and “arrested in Mexico” before being extradited shows a functional partnership between nations to combat crime.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   • For Target 16.1: The article provides a specific data point for an intentional homicide. This single case of a man being “stabbed to death” contributes to the official UN indicator 16.1.1 (Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population). The reporting of such a crime is the first step in tracking and measuring violence.
   • For Target 16.3: The successful apprehension of the fugitive (“fugitive… was arrested”) serves as an implicit, qualitative indicator of an effective justice system. It demonstrates the capacity of law enforcement to resolve serious crimes and hold alleged perpetrators accountable, which is a measure of the functioning rule of law.
   • For Target 16.a: The successful cross-border operation (“arrested in Mexico and… extradited to San Diego”) is a direct, tangible indicator of effective international cooperation in combating crime. It shows that institutional partnerships are in place and are functioning to prevent criminals from evading justice by crossing borders.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators (Identified in the Article)
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.	The specific instance of a violent death (“Evin Paulos was found stabbed to death”), which is a data point for measuring intentional homicides (Indicator 16.1.1).
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.	The successful arrest and extradition of a murder suspect (“fugitive… was arrested… extradited”), demonstrating the enforcement of the rule of law.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation… to combat… crime.	The functioning international cooperation between the US and Mexico to locate and arrest a fugitive (“arrested in Mexico… brought back to Phoenix”).

Source: azfamily.com