Crime is a concern for many voters, and politicians often make it a major talking point in order to effectively win the elections. Indeed, they sometimes embellish crime rates to make them sound worse than they are. But the reality is in many parts of the country, crime and violence are coming down, while it is still important to create plans to continue improvements.
Cities and states are able to reduce violent crime by creating violence reduction teams in the mayor’s office, utilizing data-driven approaches to making decisions, and solving crimes. When crimes are solved and arrests are made, it sends a message that when violence occurs, they will be brought to justice. Timely responses help deter future violence before it occurs.
Politicians should also address public health issues that prompt crime, namely trauma and under-resourced areas. Supporting programs that help people heal from trauma and prevention programs help communities disassociate itself from the cycles of crime and violence. Approaches that seek to help people perform better are more effective than speeches that speak to being “tough on crime”.
Key Policy Approaches for Reducing Violent Crime
Addressing violent crime requires a mix of strategies that target root causes while strengthening systems that keep communities safe. Effective approaches combine immediate interventions with long-term solutions that build trust between citizens and institutions.
Strengthening and Reforming Law Enforcement Agencies
Police departments are essential to mitigating and/or eradicating violent crime. However, they need resources and training to properly do this work. Evidence-based policing usually means better crime reduction in cities that invest in it.
Officers need technical training on de-escalation methods and community police engagement to develop trust in neighborhoods with a history of poor police relations. Also, data-driven policing leads police agencies to use resources in those areas that need them most. When police can concentrate resources in high-crime neighborhoods and with repeat offenders, they can produce a more significant impact in the community with finite resources.
Another aspect of using resources efficiently is increasing the solvability of violent crimes. According to the search results, increasing the solvability of violent crimes serves two important functions to maintain all policing agencies. First, deterring future violent crime; second, acknowledging the harm to all crime victims and helping to produce closure.
Promoting Effective Gun Control Measures
Common-sense gun policies can reduce homicides without infringing on rights. Universal background checks help keep weapons away from those with violent histories.
Red flag laws allow temporary removal of firearms from people in crisis. These laws have shown promise in preventing both homicides and suicides.
Stricter penalties for illegal gun trafficking can reduce the flow of weapons to high-crime areas. This targets suppliers rather than legal gun owners.
Technology like gunshot detection systems helps police respond faster to shootings. Quick response times can save lives and increase the chances of solving violent crimes.
Investing in Community-Based Crime Prevention
Violence interruption programs employ trusted community members to mediate conflicts before they turn deadly. The National Network for Safe Communities has seen success with this model in several cities.
Youth programs provide alternatives to gang involvement. After-school activities, mentoring, and job training give young people positive options during high-risk hours.
Economic development in high-crime areas creates opportunities beyond illegal activities. When communities have good jobs, stable housing, and thriving businesses, crime typically drops.
Mental health and substance abuse services help address underlying factors that contribute to violence. Access to treatment can prevent crimes before they happen.
Enhancing the Criminal Justice System
Courts need resources to process cases efficiently. Backlogs in the justice system can leave dangerous offenders on the streets and delay justice for victims.
Alternative sentencing for non-violent offenders frees up resources to focus on violent crime. Programs like drug courts and diversion initiatives show promising results.
Improved victim services encourage cooperation with investigations. When victims feel supported, they’re more likely to participate in the justice process.
Coordination between federal, state, and local agencies multiplies effectiveness. As search results indicate, partnerships at every level are essential for addressing violent crime comprehensively.
Addressing Root Causes and Social Drivers of Violence
Violence in communities has deep social roots that go beyond individual choices. Politicians who understand these underlying causes can create more effective policies that prevent crime before it happens.
Reducing Political Violence and Civil Unrest
Civil unrest stems from frustration with inequity and injustice. Political leaders must also react and provide their citizenry a place or forum to express their struggles, to be heard or respected.
When political leaders formally acknowledge legitimate grievances, it will provide the political leader with an opportunity to address some of the specific things that may lead to de-escalation, such as police review boards, police reform, community oversight boards, or government transparency. Political violence has increased in the last several years and has been fueled mostly by competing ideologies, extremists, and online conspiracy theories such as QAnon.
Politicians can combat political violence by providing rational and factual information or denouncing the rhetoric of political violence that exists on all sides. Community-oriented programs that bring together diverse groups of people can build trust and mitigate extreme ideologies, and cost much less than dealing with violence after it becomes an issue.
Promoting Equity and Gender-Informed Strategies
Crime prevention strategies work better when they address inequities in communities. Politicians can invest in neighborhoods that have historically received less funding for schools, parks, and economic development.
Gender-informed approaches recognize that men and women experience violence differently. Women face higher rates of domestic violence while men are more likely to be victims of stranger violence.
Programs that address male aggression and provide healthy role models for young men show promise in reducing violent behavior. At the same time, support for domestic violence survivors needs adequate funding.
Gun ownership policies should balance rights with safety measures like background checks and waiting periods. Research shows these policies can reduce gun violence without infringing on responsible owners’ rights.
Responding to Recent Challenges: Pandemic, George Floyd, and Political Shifts
The economic strain created by the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to elevated rates of crime in certain communities. Political leaders who advocated for some kind of economic assistance generally generated less of a social disturbance than those who didn’t.
The murder of George Floyd in 2020 drew attention to issues of police accountability and systemic racism in many police organizations. The difference between leaders who just dismissed these concerns and those who responded with substantive reforms diminished the tension that accompanied these historical events. Economic recovery plans that immediately prioritize communities most severely impacted by the pandemic may also address the difficult economic decisions that lead some individuals to theft, other property crimes, and violence.
The pandemic also contributed to many young people engaging in delinquent behavior when after-school programming was suspended. It will be essential to re-establish and expand these youth programs to prevent and/or reduce juvenile crime.
When it’s working properly, democracy can be one way to reduce violence; it allows a way for people to address grievances, while regulating behavior, and creating peaceful alternatives (or simply a better decision-making environment).