Biden’s plan to increase police budget doesn’t make us safer

In Philadelphia neighborhoods, street lights, painted sidewalks, public transportation, and the simple existence of parks are at least 76% less chance of murderThis startling statistic is based on an observational study of neighborhood characteristics associated with adolescent homicide published by the National Library of Medicine. This is what true public safety looks like. Investing in our communities to create a world where the criminal justice system functions fairly, justly and impartially.

Our community has seen too many officials continue to implement a police-only approach to our safety. These solutions alone do not work and are proving to be even more detrimental to our safety and overall well-being. and move forward with real solutions to create a safe community.

It’s not hard to imagine responding with community-centric alternatives to policing.In fact, communities across the country redefinition What kind of security do you see over the years?of Aucklandmembers of the community created a model to provide people in a mental health crisis with the services and resources they needed from mental health professionals. Minneapolisa growing movement to cut police funding and prioritize social services over police responses.

In New York City, some non-profit organization Additional funds from the city’s police replacement program will be used to hire former “gang” members, curb local violence in neighborhoods, build community-controlled coalitions, purchase additional streetlights, and Enhanced security measures surrounding housing projects Queensbridge Housethe largest in Japan.

Knowing this and other similar success stories, policy makers should make investments in communities that directly correlate with crime reductions. But now governments at all levels are increasing police budgets instead.this too at the white housePresident Biden plans to put 100,000 more police officers on the streets over the next five years and allocate nearly $13 billion to the Community Oriented Police Service (COPS) employment program. It is long past time to put an end to this misguided practice and make investments that will truly improve public safety for members of Congress.

We should feel safe in our communities and benefit from positive social investment in our communities. Within the United States, access to physical safety is as shaped by where people live as access to clean air, financial mobility, and quality schools. Our most dangerous places reflect decades of systematic decline in investment and the presence of hostile police who target rather than protect residents. This makes it even clearer that increased police budgets are merely political pandering to those who mistakenly believe that more police force equals greater safety.

There is clear evidence of how investing in the fundamental pillars of individual and community well-being can create true and lasting public safety, rather than militarize neighborhoods with more police. Of Change works with the Civil Rights Corps, the Vera Institute for Justice, the Brookings Valuing Black Assets Initiative, and the Brookings Bass Center for Transformative Place Making to develop new blueprint for federal policy It presents an evidence-based approach to keeping communities safe, and offers broad policy recommendations for elected officials to finally fix a broken justice system.

The blueprint identifies investments in communities that have led to reduced violence and harm, and provides evidence-based solutions for how the federal government can address violence and harm through the lens of public health. These approaches are illustrative and proven examples of how positive investments in the social determinants of safety can make individuals, families and communities safer and more prosperous. The recommendations are designed to promote community safety through proven approaches such as increasing access to equitable housing, increasing youth employment and skills training, and remodeling empty spaces.

For example, youth workforce development and employment programs have been found to reduce youth violent crime arrests by as much as 45%, making summer jobs one of the most effective safety programs. There is evidence that this efficacy also applies to adults.Conducted by Brown University study at a New Orleans-based vocational training program earlier this year. The goal of the vocational training program was primarily to improve employment and income for participants from low-income households. The study found that a program participant was 40% less likely to be arrested than a non-participant with the same background.

It’s time for our public safety policies and budgets to reflect this reality and allocate resources to black welfare instead of police brutalizing them. It shows what can be implemented to make neighborhoods safer and truly enhance community safety. Now we need federal and local legislators to implement it. From physical improvements in communities, to expanding access to health care, to supporting the social and emotional well-being of young people, all lasting public safety solutions are positive and non-punitive. .