Almost every day we see disturbing crimes caught on video in the news: a shooting on Bourbon Street in New Orleans; a violent passenger on a Southwest flight in Dallas; a fifteen-year-old autistic boy who was dragged off a train in Manhattan and beaten; a woman being trampled unconscious on a Philadelphia sidewalk; auto thefts in San Francisco; reckless and dangerous street racing in Philadelphia, Austin, Miami. In addition, recent Walmart stores in Portland have closed, in part due to rampant theft and endangerment to employees, or Citadel moved its headquarters from Chicago after several employees were harassed.
How many businesses will be forced to close and how many innocent people will have to suffer at the hands of violent criminals before we tackle rising crime rates head-on?
What this pandemic of street violence, robberies, car thefts, street racing and deadly shootings on the streets of our cities have in common is that the criminals themselves are not afraid of the consequences. They are encouraged by the ease with which they can commit these acts. With minimal penalties, no bail requirements, and other reductions in enforcement and punishment, these crimes become an attractive and profitable venture that encourages criminals to continue their illicit activities.
Ironically, our federal government seems to recognize this and could potentially benefit from it. In the instructions required to file your federal income tax this year, Publication 525, “Taxable and Nontaxable Income,” states: “Income from illegal activities, such as .” “If you steal property, you must file the FMV in State your income in the year you steal it.” Really? If a thief or drug dealer even files a tax return, how likely are they to provide their source of income to pay taxes to the US Treasury Department?
But for the rest of us law-abiding, tax-paying citizens who have witnessed the devastating effects of petty crime on our communities for far too long, it’s not just murder, arson, theft or violence that devastates our society. It is the persistent and insidious nature of petty crime that makes ordinary citizens feel insecure and anxious. This issue should transcend party lines, as the well-being of our communities is inextricably linked to how we deal with criminal activity. Only when we start taking a tough stance on such crimes will we start to see a positive change.
In 2013, Daniel Nagin, Professor of Public Policy and Statistics at Carnegie Mellon University, summarized the available empirical evidence in a paper entitled Deterrence in the Twenty-First Century. As for his conclusions:
Research clearly shows that the certainty of being caught is a far more powerful deterrent to would-be criminals than the threat or severity of punishment. Effective policing, leading to swift and sure sanctions, is even a better deterrent than the threat of imprisonment.
Police deter crime by increasing criminals’ perception that they will be caught and punished. Strategies such as “hot spot” policing are particularly effective. A criminal’s behavior is more likely to be influenced by the sight of a handcuffed police officer with a walkie-talkie than by new laws that increase penalties.
In a similar study in 2016, writer German Lopez turned to criminologists and researchers to find out what impartial measures could be used to reduce crime. His six conclusions were:
Stricter alcohol policy: Alcohol plays a role in at least 40 percent of violent crime. Decisions and judgments that would normally be held back are suddenly uninhibited by alcohol consumption.
Hot Spot Policing: In many cities, the bulk of crime is generated from a very small subset of locations down to the street and block level. Smart policing in these specific areas can have a major impact, especially when partnerships can be built between police, residents, parents, shopkeepers, school officials and other community members. The study shows that this not only reduces crime, but also takes place without shifting it to other areas.
Focused Deterrence Police: When you focus on specific issues in a community, e.g. For example, dealing in drugs, you can then focus on the people driving most of that activity. Bringing law enforcement and community groups together clearly signals the legal and societal consequences of criminal behavior when the community itself communicates extremely strong and clear standards against violence.
Raise the age or grade for dropping out of school: Research has shown that children who graduate from school are less likely to become delinquents.
Behavioral Intervention Programs: Programs aimed at youth who are at risk of encountering violent encounters, perhaps because of where they live or the school they attend, teaching them self-regulation and negotiation skills are an example of this type of program.
Eliminate run-down housing: A 2015 study found that rehabilitating abandoned and vacant buildings in Philadelphia resulted in significant reductions in crime totals, assault totals, gun attacks, and annoying crimes. When the area appeared to be well-groomed, the neighbors invested more in the grooming—a sort of informal policing mechanism.
It’s time we gave up the idea of showing sympathy to criminals. We can empathize with those who may be struggling to provide for themselves or their families, but feeling compassion for their plight and holding them accountable for their crimes are not mutually exclusive. We can appreciate their circumstances, but we cannot ignore their behavior and expect anyone to become a victim because of someone else’s plight. Most people in dire circumstances do not choose to commit crimes.
Shops should no longer be forced to close and innocent victims should no longer be victims of violent criminals simply because they fear no consequences for their actions.
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