Gun violence in the United States has become quite a huge problem as various crimes related to guns were at their peak during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Gun violence in the United States mostly impacted young adolescents as well as juveniles whereby the African-American males are the ones with the highest victimization rate than any other racial or gender group. During that period and also up to now in some cases, a young African-American teenage boy was more likely to die of a gunshot wound rather than from all causes of death. Due to the adversity in gun-related crimes, the United States government improved steadily in ensuring that violence which is gun-related is reduced. This essay examines the strategies that the United States government has come up with in order to curb this issue of gun violence.
Question 1
There are many positive outcomes that are associated with the collaborative initiative. One of the positive outcomes is that the two nonprofit organizations in Baltimore namely; Community Law Center and Citizens Planning and Housing Association that were local teamed up with the residents of the area and started working with them to aid in the restoration of safety. The Community Law Center greatly aided the neighborhood in providing technical assistance, representation as well as legal education to the groups in the community (Bilchik, 1999). The other organization was of assistance in addressing matters related to housing, crime and drugs. It helped the residents by showing them means of retrieving their neighborhoods that had been invaded by drug addicts, prostitutes and violent gangs. One way to do this was by hosting vigils and other street actions on those grounds.
Another positive outcome is that the nonprofit neighborhood design center in Baltimore was introduced as a partner in order to assist the residents to reduce dealing in drugs as well as other various criminal activities. This was achieved by changing the physical environment. The implementation of Baltimore’s Comprehensive Communities Program is another positive outcome as it was fully funded. Another positive outcome is that communities became regularly consulted on matters relating to the setting of their neighborhoods agendas by public agencies. Also, the residents were granted access to a number of remedies in their fight against crime and drugs (Bilchik, 1999). The Community Law Center also provided legal help in relation to organizational development issues. Youth programs and employment are also positive outcomes that have been provided as positive alternatives for young recovering addicts as well as developing support systems for them (Bilchik, 1999).
Question 2
As a partner to the initiative, Bon Secours Hospital is the least essential towards the initiative. This is because; it has only played a role in providing a support center for the local families in community as well as renovating a lot of the homes that are vacant in the region. This partner is less essential as it has not in any way contributed to the reduction of gun violence, drug dealing and abuse, violent gangs and crime which are the main problems that need to be curbed. All the other partners have in one way or another contributed in the reduction of gun violence and all other vices related to it (Bilchik, 1999). For instance, the Department of Housing and Community Development, which is also a partner, authorized the closing down of buildings suspected to be associated with drugs or any other activities by gangs. This has in one way or another been useful towards the initiative because it has helped in the reduction of the problem as the gangs no longer have a place to carry out their violent activities and are forced to be discreet about their endeavors unlike in the buildings where they were comfortable.
Question 3
The Comprehensive Communities Program is a criminal justice entity that could lead to the success of the initiative. This is due to the fact that its implementation greatly affected the initiative in a positive way as it developed quite a number of crime prevention strategies as well as helping the local leaders who are in conjunction with the residents to come up with ways of identifying problems, constructing strategies and executing them afterwards. The organizations under this program helped the local residents reduce dealing in drugs as well as engaging themselves in other crimes. Through this, residents were encouraged and taught how to reclaim their public spaces. By doing all this, a closer step is taken towards being successful in relation to the initiative (Bilchik, 1999).
Question 4
Youth prevention as a non-criminal justice entity could have greatly enhanced the success of the initiative. This is because research done has proven that the youths are the ones who are greatly involved in gun violence as well as other crimes related to it. Statistics show that nearly half of all the juvenile violent crimes happen between early afternoons to late nights. This is due to the lack of supervision of the youths as well as failing to engage them in constructive activities. Due to their idleness, they are led into doing illegal drugs, wandering around and other crimes. The initiative of the Hotspot Communities includes providing these youths with activities that are made to improve their skills in a social aspect as well as an academic one hence reducing their free time. Youth prevention programs offer modules on drug abuse, peer pressure, prevention of violence and conflict resolution (Artigiani, 2001).
References
Artigiani, E. E., (2001). Hotspot Communities Initiatives Phase 1. An Interim Report Prepared for the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention. College Park, MD: University of Maryland.
Bilchik, Shay, Gun Violence. “Promising Strategies to Reduce Gun Violence.” (1999).
