Feds Study Memphis’ Crime Prevention Efforts
Over the past five years, crime in the city of Memphis has dropped 25%. And while the city is excited about that, they aren’t the only ones paying attention. A group of individuals from the federal government were in Memphis this past week to take a look at what’s working and what the city might need help with to continue their success in crime prevention.
According to the Commercial Appeal, the group included individuals from the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing and Education, who are traversing the country visiting multiple cities in an effort to “get at the roots of violent crime”.
Five years ago, Memphis began the journey towards effective crime prevention with the Operation Safe Community program. The program is preparing to enter Phase 2, involving concentration on youth in poverty stricken areas.
In specific, the Operation Safe Community program will be focusing on the North Memphis and Frayser area where it’s estimated that 50,000 youth are in poverty. Among other things, the program is hoping to implement a system where students kicked out of traditional schools have access to alternative schools rather than simply being put out on the streets.
This area of the city is said to have the highest concentrations of domestic violence, single family homes, teen pregnancy, and gang activity. But like one criminologist said, there efforts won’t be without struggle as preventing crime “takes a lot longer to accomplish”.
They hope that by aligning schools, faith based groups, and police within these communities, they can pull together and rally around the most at risk populations, the kids. Of course, their cause would be helped with some additional funding, something that the group of federal officials may be able to help with. Though there are federal grants available, the Commercial Appeal states that this was not the reason for the observational trip.
A 25% drop in crime is pretty significant. Maintaining that decrease will take some effort from all parties and with Memphis’ “legacy of poverty, domestic and juvenile violence” the effort won’t be easy.
Too often officials are overly concerned with punishing crime rather than preventing it. While the city is working to stop crime before it happens, this also involves using appropriate sentences within the criminal courts to discourage future criminality.
In an effort to prevent crime from reoccurring, there are some alternative sentencing options available within the Memphis area and throughout jurisdictions in the state. Your eligibility for these programs, like probation, depends on the facts of your case and your criminal history. If you’re charged with a crime and concerned about your options, contact our attorneys today for a free consultation.
