Addressing Federal Police Reform: A Community-Centric Approach

Addressing Federal Police Reform: A Community-Centric Approach

Everyone is currently focused on police reform, which is a vexing issue that cannot be resolved overnight. However, the discussion must shift from a federal-centric approach to a community-centric one. This seems to be a critical oversight that needs immediate attention.

The Role of Mayors and Judicial Systems in Reducing Crime

If mayors allowed the police to perform their duties without interference and the judicial system effectively incarcerated violent criminals for extended periods, the rate of serious violent crimes could dramatically decrease. According to statistics, approximately 1.2 million violent crimes were committed annually before the COVID-19 pandemic, and around 840,000 of these were committed by repeat offenders. When these offenders are in prison, they cannot commit more crimes, which is a logical deterrent.

Teaching Constitutional Rights in Schools and Training Cops

A fundamental solution is to educate all citizens and law enforcement about their constitutional rights through the Department of Education (DOE). This ensures that citizens know their rights and can invoke them when confronted by police. Simultaneously, police should be trained to adhere to their constitutional limitations, not to cleverly circumvent them during interrogations. The Blackstone ratio, which posits that it is better for ten guilty individuals to escape than for one innocent person to suffer, highlights the importance of this principle.

Community and Legislative Oversight

Legislators often pass unconstitutional laws, burdening police with unenforceable mandates. Citizens should be involved in reviewing and stopping such legislation. Both citizens and police must obey and uphold constitutional mandates. Community involvement is crucial, as federal influence on local policy is often indirect, through grants for specialized or innovative policing services with minimal oversight and significant input from stakeholders, such as the police.

Identifying Local Needs and Solutions

Communities should identify and address their specific protective service needs and explore effective alternatives or modifications. For example, problems like rowdiness at local bars and DUI incidents may result from inadequate management of liquor licenses. Public intoxication issues may be better managed by considering who is selling packaged liquor and beer and to whom. If many of these packaged liquor stores are owned by immigrants, local communities may benefit from conversations about supporting the establishment of real grocery stores or green grocers instead.

A Practical Example: Community Involvement at Work

A very lovely church on the edge of a once nifty neighborhood began noticing increased vandalism. This neighborhood now had a lot of unsupervised kids after school. The church, in conjunction with the city and police, initiated an after-school athletic and fitness program. This led to a significant reduction in vandalism almost immediately. This example illustrates how local community input and collaboration can produce effective solutions.

Conclusion

While the federal government plays a role in policing, real change requires a grassroots, community-driven approach. By involving citizens, reviewing and stopping unconstitutional laws, and addressing localized issues, we can create safer communities without relying solely on the federal government to 'save us.' Communities must take the lead to identify and implement solutions specific to their needs.