Fighting crime is a complex and fragile exercise which cannot be left along to the law enforcement officers along. This is because the police are few compared to the population hence they cannot penetrate every street or guard every house in the neighborhood. Therefore, the society needs to get involved and help the police fight crime. The community can get involved by providing valuable information to the law enforcement authorities since those who commit crime live among them. The community can also organize seminars and workshop which would be aimed at making the public aware of the dangers of being involved in crime activities. Furthermore, the community can build reforms and rehabilitation facilities which geared at helping the current and former criminals distancing themselves from the crime activities. In addition provide them with opportunities such as washing cars to make an honest income (Gill et al., 2014). Thus, the gang intervention program is an excellent program which will compact gang crime in a big way.
Responses to gang crime have traditionally been law-enforcement based. Do you think LA’s intervention approach of using street workers to reduce gang crime promises idea? Do you think this will reduce gang violence? Why or why not?
The approach is a good idea. This is because the some of the street workers were once gang members hence they are in a good position to advice the people who engage gang crime. Additionally, they can find their way around the streets with ease; hence they can easily reach to these gang members than law enforcement can. Furthermore, they know the experience of living a good life away from crime and living a life of crime. Thus, they are in a better position and have an upper hand to tell the gang members the benefits and advantages of living a good life away from crime. Therefore, the intervention will reduce gang violence since the street workers can act as a negotiator when rival gangs want to fight or commit a crime. As the author of the article put it, the law enforcement officers have agreed that the gang intervention initiative is an excellent program. The gang intervention workers help in reducing tension between gangs prevent retaliation, and they have information of what is going on the streets (Scott, 2010).
Many of the individuals going through the academy to become interventionists are former gang members themselves. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not? What are some potential problems you see with this approach? What are possible benefits of using former gang members to reduce gang crime?
Inclusion of the former gang members in the program is a good idea. This is because they can tell which methods will work best on the streets and which will not. Additionally, the members of the gang will listen more to the former gang members since they can identify with them. The potential problem could be the former gangs members have not completely stop using drugs. Thus, they might find the law and ethics of the program hard to comply (Scott, 2010). Hence, they may opt to leave the program.
If other cities were to follow LA and adopt the interventionist academy program, who should be responsible for funding the program? Is this the responsibility of the city, the federal government, a non-profit agency, or a private organization?
If other cities decide to implement the program, the funding of the program should be a collective responsibility since the crimes and violence affects everyone in the cities (Gill et al., 2014). Thus, these programs should be funded by taxpayer money. Hence, the federal government and local government should include the program in their budget. Additionally, individuals and nongovernmental organization can support the program by giving donations towards the program, or they can volunteer in the program
Work cited
Gill, Charlotte, et al. "Community-oriented policing to reduce crime, disorder and fear and increase satisfaction and legitimacy among citizens: a systematic review." Journal of Experimental Criminology (2014): 1-30.
Scott, G. "An educated weapon will combat gangs." Los Angeles Times, 2010. Web.
