Month: November 2023

Contra “Root Causes” | City Journal

Few scholars influenced American government in the twentieth century more profoundly than James Q. Wilson. Presidents consulted him for his expertise on everything from crime to drug abuse to bioethics, and his prolific writings—on bureaucracy, urban governance, and even coral-reef fish—often shaped public debate. President George W. Bush called Wilson “the most influential political scientist […]
— Read on www.city-journal.org/article/contra-root-causes

School Resource Officers, 2019–2020 | Bureau of Justice Statistics

This report provides details on demographics and certification of school resource officers (SROs) by the type of law enforcement agency that employs them. It also describes law enforcement, mentoring, and teaching activities performed by the officers. The report discusses equipment typically carried and training received by the officers.
— Read on bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/school-resource-officers-2019-2020

Understand—and Act On—the Realities of Criminal Offending | City Journal

The opening quote is perfect in much of todays Crime-Fighting policy decisions. There are a lot of feel good wishful thinking policy decisions that has led to an increase in crime. Ending bail, ignoring Broken Windows, releasing Prisoners are only some examples.

“One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results,” economist Milton Friedman
— Read on www.city-journal.org/article/understand-and-act-on-the-realities-of-criminal-offending

Policing Young People in NSW: A study of the Suspect Targeting Management Plan | Public Interest Advocacy Centre

The New South Wales Police Force (NSW Police) Suspect Targeting Management Plan (STMP) seeks to prevent future offending by targeting repeat offenders and people police believe are likely to commit future crime. The STMP is both a police intelligence tool that uses risk assessment to identify suspects and a policing program that guides police interaction with individuals who are subject to the program.
— Read on piac.asn.au/2017/10/25/policing-young-people-in-nsw-a-study-of-the-suspect-targeting-management-plan/

One in Five: Disparities in Crime and Policing

As you read this report draw your own conclusions but I must highlight that the usual attacks are made on police. It almost amounts to “nothing works” in policing in it’s current state which is absolutely false. The usual attacks are: racial disparities in policing are driven solely by racism and nothing to do with offender accountability, police tactics like pedestrian and vehicle stops are bad, police in schools are bad, broken windows doesn’t work, reduce police use of force (not that it’s a function of police being attacked), Increase police oversight (where members have personal agendas that conflict with the community and police goals). This list of grievances is a broken record without viable or proven examples of what works without policing. Nonetheless I present their argument.

Executive Summary

This report interrogates the large footprint of policing—particularly of Black Americans— as, in part, a failed response to racial disparities in serious crimes.  The wide net that police cast across people of color is at odds with advancing safety because excessive police contact often fails to intercept serious criminal activity and diminishes the perceived legitimacy of law enforcement. Excessive policing also distracts policymakers from making investments to promote community safety without the harms of policing and incarceration. In addition, the large footprint of policing gets in the way of, as the National Academies of Sciences has called for, needed “durable investments in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods that match the persistent and longstanding nature of institutional disinvestment that such neighborhoods have endured over many years.”

Nate: There are several parts to this series.

Read more here: https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/one-in-five-disparities-in-crime-and-policing/

Get a .PDF of the report here: https://www.sentencingproject.org/app/uploads/2023/10/One-in-Five-Disparities-in-Crime-and-Policing.pdf

One in Five: Ending Racial Inequity in Incarceration

Executive Summary

Following a massive, four-decade-long buildup of incarceration disproportionately impacting people of color, a growing reform movement has made important inroads. The 21st century has witnessed progress both in reducing the U.S. prison population and its racial and ethnic disparities. The total prison population has declined by 25% after reaching its peak level in 2009. While all major racial and ethnic groups experienced decarceration, the Black prison population has downsized the most. The number of imprisoned Black Americans decreased 39% since its peak in 2002.  Despite this progress, imprisonment levels remain too high nationwide, particularly for Black Americans.

NOTE: This is one article of a several part series.

Read on here: https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/one-in-five-ending-racial-inequity-in-incarceration/

Get a .pdf of the REPORT here: https://www.sentencingproject.org/app/uploads/2023/10/One-in-Five-Ending-Racial-Inequity-in-Incarceration.pdf