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Police reform is an issue on the minds of many Americans, due to incidents like the police-related beating death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis. However, some see rising crime in cities like Seattle as evidence that cutting police budgets will only lead to more violent crime.
Straight Arrow News contributor Dr. Rashad Richey says statistics show that police don’t actually solve much crime or have nearly as much impact on public safety as we may believe.
Let’s talk about things that actually do work. CVIs, CVIs, Community-Based Violence Intervention programs. These programs work. Let me give you some examples. Homicides or non-fatal shootings have been reduced by as much as 60% in areas where group violence intervention models have been implemented. That’s a big number. Let me give you more. Cities like Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, have each implemented a Cure Violence Program, and they have seen more than 30% reductions in shootings and killings from these programs. Oakland, California — CVI programs have helped reduce the city’s gun violence by half over a seven-year period. There’s more.
Chicago’s Cred program, which combines street outreach, coaching — which is mentoring, counseling — which is therapy, and workforce — which is a job. Okay. These are advocacy programs basically that advocate for the individual and provide wraparound services. They saw a 50%, 50% reduction in gunshot injuries among its participants in only 18 months of implementation. These stats are much better than a police officer’s ability to stop or decrease crime.
So the question is, why are we having the debate? Let’s be very clear. Public safety is your goal, once again. Police, well, they are part of that method to reach your goal. CVI programs are wholly underfunded, under-resourced; they’re not sexy. Politicians don’t really talk about them. The numbers can get complex. Programming can be, let’s say, it could take some time. But it’s worth it. Because the end result is a safer community. Which by the way, is what public safety is about.
