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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFH Inclusion and Policing Task Force Agenda Packet_3-14-17CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS Falcon Heights Task Force City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue AGENDA March 14, 2017 7:15 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. I.Call to Order II.Review Agenda III.Review of March 7, 2017 Meeting Minutes IV.Discuss Draft Recommended Policing Policies, Procedures, and Resources V.BREAK (5 Minutes) VI.Preparation for Upcoming Task Force Meetings VII.Announcements and Updates VIII.Adjourn BLANK PAGE  CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS Falcon Heights Inclusion and Policing Task Force City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue MINUTES March 7, 2017 at 7:15 P.M. 1.CALL TO ORDER: 7:16 p.m. ROLL CALL: ANDREWS X JOHNSON-POWERS X BALLENTINE X LEEHY-CO CHAIR X COLOND X THOMPSON X DEMERATH WADE X JOHNSON X STAFF PRESENT: MAYOR LINDSTROM X CO-CHAIR/COUNCIL MEMBER GUSTAFSON CO-FACILITATOR QUICK X CO-FACILITATOR MORRIS X ADMINISTRATOR THONGVANH X Homework for next meeting on Tues. March 14, read Einstein article. I. Call to order 7:21pm II. Review Agenda No changes were proposed. III. Review meeting minutes Amy was out sick last time. No other corrections. Dan motioned to accept the minutes with changes, Jay seconded, and all were in favor. IV. Debrief of Mar. 2-community conversation some facilitators and circle keepers seemed a little conflicted about whether they should provide input. Some do some do not. Members felt the discussions were healthy and respectful. Some questions were awkwardly worded. One member was surprised at the opinions that were accepted as facts. The police officer in the group established some facts about practices and lack of data about traffic stops. 1 of 46 Some community members are disheartened by elected officials. One member appreciated the diversity in room and seeing participants from outside of Falcon Heights. However, people of Falcon Heights need to show up if there is going to be change in the city. Another member was able to look in different groups, hear different ideas and conflicting views. Does the city need 24/7 service? If not, response times could be 5-10 minutes. vs. 2-3 minutes. One group was quite productive by producing 50 idea cards with just eight people. How can community values communicated? There is a struggle to make community more engaged and welcoming. One facilitator seemed more like an interrogator in seeking clarification rather than listening. A question came up about who is paying for the snacks and water. Facilitators need to communicate what they need. Reimbursement from the city is available. Sack or Mariah can be contacted. Would it be possible to keep the introductions shorter? Some things need to be covered so every one is on the same page. Some groups are more engaged and willing to commit more time. How can the discussion continue? How can we keep people engaged and leverage this energy. How can we obtain responses from elderly that cannot attend? How about a meeting at one of the senior buildings? How important is it to pull people back together? Some closure needed although some want more time for small group discussion. V. Discussion around policing approaches and best practices Discussion was continued from the last meeting where members were given homework to think about policing practices and improving outcomes. Pick two or three areas where we would see the most benefit. An analogy was made regarding a hospital setting with patient experiences and their satisfaction level. Could a satisfaction score be created for police? There typically is not the same trust factor with police as there is with hospitals. Could data be compared with other police departments? Public perception of those who enforce rules is not usually positive. Roseville police has a process for people to provide feedback after police interaction. Data is available online. One suggestion was that any time a police officer talks to anyone they must give out info for a city controlled monitoring system. Problems can potentially be addressed quickly. Another suggestion was an 11 week training session where officers get to know community in various ways. Police can gain insight on how to be engaged. Regarding the contract, what are the consequences of not being compliant? Could there be financial penalties or other repercussions? Typically, contracts have language regarding breeches with time periods to avoid reoccurrence. Also included would be language about a remediation process and termination. Switching to a different police department could take 12 to 18 months. Other departments are not hiring in case they need to cover Falcon Heights. Contract needs to be modified with community values. Some intermediate things could be done if something comes up. A probationary period could be used and financial incentives to do what they agreed upon. The current contract has been in place a long time and people have been happy with it. SAP is looking to improve the performance of its officers. Council formed this task force to get recommendations. The community engagement committee could be a recipient of police feedback cards. We do not want to micro-manage police but we want to provide some general guidance. We want to put specifics on the framework of policing and community process. Regarding police encounters, in general a white guy is nervous but the black guy is thinking my life could be over. Different camps can be formed easily but we need to realize that we all have a stake in optimal outcomes. 2 of 46 The proposal of a joint powers of authority was brought forward where the cities of St. Anthony, Lauderdale, and Falcon Heights have equal say in policing. The cities of Centennial, Lexington and Circle Pines have this arrangement. Funding can be complicated and could be based on population, amount of crime and other factors. The city would have more influence over policing, hiring and budget with this agreement. More investigation is needed into this. Currently, recommendations can be made to SAP and they seem responsive but this vehicle would give the city more authority. Break 8:50pm Other members provided input regarding hiring officers with a diverse background and having experience with people from different cultures. The hiring process needs to convey the values of the community. Regarding the suggestion of officers walking the city, this would affect response times to other parts of the city or would require more officers which would increase costs. Another suggestion was to have police issue more warnings about vehicle issues like broken tail lights. This could help improve the community's perception of the police and convey that they are being helpful rather than just enforcing the rules. VI. Blink discussion We all have embedded biases and make quick decisions with little information based on what we have learned. However, we can retrain ourselves. Applying this to the city, police could get out of their cars more and citizens could engage the police at community events. Some see the police as serving the community while others do not. The practice of personal de-escalation can be practiced by police and citizens to slow down and obtain additional information. One example was given about a domestic dispute where an officer was pushed three times but the person was not arrested. The person was not seen as a threat to the officer's safety in the situation. Many variables are involved like the mood of police officer and previous call experience. We won't know the variables before an encounter but we will make a decision. Review of the task force timeline: Task force meetings on 3/14 and 3/21 Community Conversation 4/3 to review policing draft recommendations Task force meeting on 4/11 to review recommendations for the council City Council meeting on 5/3 to present recommendations from the task force VIII. Preparation for March 14th Task Force Meeting Notes from the community conversation turnaround was a challenge given the timing of the task force meeting. Will references to websites and input from outside experts be available? Melanie is working with the design team and they are shooting for 3/21 for expert input. IX. Announcements and Updates The next task force meeting will be Tuesday March 14. X. Adjourn 9:33pm 3 of 46 Falcon Heights I&PP Task Force members, This email includes a document for your review in advance of our next meeting on Tuesday, March 14, when we begin to finalize our work toward recommendations. On Thursday you were sent an email that contained two documents – a summary of Conversation #2 and a report from the National Issues Forum on Public Safety – and a link to a video of a Minneapolis community forum on policing. Those items offer context information that will help us develop and design our recommendations. The document attached to this email is a rough draft to help us focus our efforts on Tuesday. The draft statements were developed from the values, community conversations, and task force discussions of policies. Intentionally, the statements in this document are rough in order to stimulate and support discussion. The document also contains resource links to help us educate ourselves about policies and practices related to the topic. As you examine this draft please double-check that it is not missing any important item/s. Because Community Conversation #3 will be community review and feedback of our draft recommendations, our meeting on Tuesday, March 14 will be the last call for raising any additional areas to add and develop. Our meeting on the 21st will be refining the language we provide for community review. Thank you for your work in the days ahead to develop your recommendations for refining the attached rough drafts so that you can bring them with you on Tuesday. Have great working weekend! Randy & Melanie 4 of 46 Falcon Heights Task Force on Inclusion and Policing FIRST WORKING DRAFT of Recommendations regarding Policing Policies, Programs and Resources (March 10, 2017 DRAFT) Topic area Associated Policies, Procedures, or Programs For more information Priority Tasks and Duties of Police The highest priorities for public safety operations in Falcon Heights are ______, ______, and ______. Note: The Task Force should probably recommend what to fill in these blanks. The Task Force could also indicate what are low priorities. See a list of general policing activity areas mid- way down this page. Refer to the National Issues Forum pamphlet on Safety and Justice for quick overviews of different policing tactics and approaches. For more depth, see the extensive Final Report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Authority and Oversight The current situation of an annual report and review of an externally contracted police force does not provide enough intensity and frequency of oversight of a police department and its officers. Falcon Heights needs to have significant authority and oversight over our law enforcement officers and police department. We need to be able to respond in a timely and effective fashion if there is a serious (acute or persistent) concern, for example about police misconduct or a pattern of bias. The League of Minnesota Cities provides numerous resources on joint power arrangements, including this short handbook chapter on the legal authorities and options for joint powers agencies. This website describes the governing board for one policing JPA in Minnesota, the Centennial Lakes Police serving Centerville, Circle Pines, and Lexington. 5 of 46 Falcon Heights Task Force on Inclusion and Policing FIRST WORKING DRAFT of Recommendations regarding Policing Policies, Programs and Resources (March 10, 2017 DRAFT) Topic area Associated Policies, Procedures, or Programs For more information Authority and Oversight Continued Some community members have asked to end the contract with SAPD, others have suggested contracting a different provider, others have recommended creating a small Falcon Heights police department, and others are comfortable with retaining and improving the relationship with SAPD. One option is that a Joint Powers Authority could be explored to create a police force over which Falcon Heights would have shared ownership and oversight, in conjunction with one or more other small, nearby jurisdictions. Accountability Cards. In every policing interaction with a member of the public, every time, the officer will give that person a card that identifies the officer by name, suggests resources the person might like to access, and indicates a number to call with complaints, concerns, or questions about the policing interaction. It will include a link to a survey or website to gather community feedback. This is a version of the victim assistance “blue card” that police departments are mandated to provide to assist crime victims, but repurposed to be given out to every person, every time, and to enable police accountability with victim assistance. See this for examples of community feedback surveys on policing. We will circulate the existing SAPD blue card at the 3/14 Task Force meeting. See the report on Ctizen Review of Police: Approaces and Implementation from the National Institute of Justice for a review and critiques of forms of citizen review and civilian oversight and their efficacy. (Pages 30-27 and 51-55 for case studies of the Minneapolis and 6 of 46 Falcon Heights Task Force on Inclusion and Policing FIRST WORKING DRAFT of Recommendations regarding Policing Policies, Programs and Resources (March 10, 2017 DRAFT) Topic area Associated Policies, Procedures, or Programs For more information Accountability Continued Review board. A civilian oversight body will promptly and effectively investigate and act on reports of police misconduct. Data. Data will be routinely collected on all police interactions and crime. Data will be collected on _____, ____, and ____. Data will be reported at least quarterly to ____, and reviewed regularly with the Council and Police Chief to identify and respond to concerning patterns regarding crime and public safety and/or biases and disparities in enforcement. Data should include more than a narrative format of the police interaction. The data report will be published on the city website. St. Paul models, but may be outdated; this report is from 2001.) This law journal article provides in-depth discussion of how civilian review boards would ideally work and explains common factors in their success and failure. For recommendations on data collection and analysis regarding racial profiling, see Recommendation 2.6 in the final report of the 21st Century Task Force, and review the data collection ideas from the Task Force’s February 21 meeting on page 11 of these minutes. Culture and Values Officers will uphold and advance our community values. In particular, all residents and guests of the city are to be treated fairly and equally under the law, across racial and ethnic groups, generations, places of origin, gender and sexual orientation, etc. The “community values” will be laid out in the final version of the statement of community values (now in draft) from Task Force meetings and community conversation. See this report on Producing Bias-Free Policing, a Science-Based Approach to training and culture change. 7 of 46 Falcon Heights Task Force on Inclusion and Policing FIRST WORKING DRAFT of Recommendations regarding Policing Policies, Programs and Resources (March 10, 2017 DRAFT) Topic area Associated Policies, Procedures, or Programs For more information Community Policing and Relationships Officers need to get out of their cars to engage regularly with people. Officers serving Falcon Heights will get to know our community. From training through their ongoing work, their duties will include participating in community-police mutual listening sessions and attending other community events to build relationships and appreciate the diversity of our community. [Community conversations generated numerous specific ideas about particular kinds of community events.] FH should have law enforcement officers who work specifically and routinely in Falcon Heights. We want to know our officers and have them know and be attached to our community. See Pillar 1 in the final report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing for guidance and recommendations on building trust and legitimacy, including through acknowledging the role of police in past and present discrimination and adopting a “guardian mindset” and “procedural justice” approach to interactions. See this for a description of foot patrols and factors for their success. Hiring In recruitment and hiring, emphasize candidates’ life or professional experience in diverse communities, demonstrated experience with community service organizations or community engagement skills, as well as their formal prior training and policing experience. See a short handbook from COPS, a project of the DOJ, on resources on recruitment, screening, assessment, hiring and development of officers, and this report on strategies for police recruitment. 8 of 46 Falcon Heights Task Force on Inclusion and Policing FIRST WORKING DRAFT of Recommendations regarding Policing Policies, Programs and Resources (March 10, 2017 DRAFT) Topic area Associated Policies, Procedures, or Programs For more information Hiring Continued Falcon Heights will be represented on the final candidate interview panel for any hire of officers on the police force for our city. This document shaped the approaches to “character-based” hiring and training being tried by some law enforcement agencies in Ramsey County since 2011. Training Build officers’ capacity for de-escalation of themselves and others, for recognizing and addressing implicit bias, for minimizing the use of lethal weapons, and for appreciating diversity. Skill development in cultural sensitivity is critical, but must also be linked with positive cultural and community engagement to be effective. Part of community engagement and cultural sensitivity is accomplished through getting to know and appreciate our community through the relationship- building activities described above. See this and this for information about new training programs funded by the DOJ. See this summer 2016 review of models for bias reduction training and the complexities of retraining current police offers, and the complexities of retraining, by the New York Times. See the list of training ideas on page 11 of the list the Task Force members brainstormed on February 21. 9 of 46 Falcon Heights Task Force on Inclusion and Policing FIRST WORKING DRAFT of Recommendations regarding Policing Policies, Programs and Resources (March 10, 2017 DRAFT) Topic area Associated Policies, Procedures, or Programs For more information Residents, Visitors, and Other Community Institutions The above statements are oriented towards the procedures, policies, and programs of law enforcement officers. Residents, visitors, city leadership, and other community institutions also have responsibilities for public safety. These are described in a separate document on community values, and more specific recommendations about strengthening these capacities will be developed at a subsequent stage. Other? Other? 10 of 46 Falcon Heights Community Conversation 2: March 2, 2017 PRELIMINARY Analysis of Key Themes Collated by: Elizabeth Dressel Master of Urban and Regional Planning student at University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs Background Nearly 100 people attended the second in a series of five community conversations on inclusion and policing. The theme of this conversation was developing options for how the city can live out the community's values in its activities, policies, policing, and other practices. Information gathered at the community conversations will inform recommendations that the Falcon Heights Task Force on Inclusion and Policing will make to the Falcon Heights City Council in the spring of this year. Values identified at first community conversation (February 16, 2017) These are frequently expressed statements, grouped by theme. They are not consensus statements. Educate Selves and Seek Diverse Perspectives: Seeking out others perspectives and being genuinely open-minded. Listening to others, especially those we might not want to listen to. Recognizing our own individual implicit biases. Embrace the Greater Good: Creating a community beyond oneself and thinking beyond individual values. Working to harmonize the needs of all while understanding different individuals need different things. Empathy and Compassion: Upholding that we all want the same things as human beings. Insisting that officers need to engage and care. Equity and Equality: Fairness, inclusivity and equal justice. Forge Strong Relationships and Have Meaningful Communication: Creating a community by welcoming more diversity and welcoming new people into neighborhoods. Making all feel welcome and important regardless of race or age. Having honesty, creativity, and transparency in communication. Honesty and Accountability: Expecting honesty from elected officials. Holding everyone accountable for actions. Upholding honesty and transparent communication in all directions. Honor Shared Humanity: Having mutual respect. Recognizing the value of everyone and treating everyone as human beings. Finding a shared dignity and positive regard for neighbors and officials. Take Courageous Actions: Speaking up when we see something happening. Challenging others when we see or hear hurtful actions and comments. Being engaged and take action. Sensing that it is our responsibility to fix this. 11 of 46 Falcon Heights Community Conversation 2: March 2, 2017 PRELIMINARY Analysis of Key Themes Circle: Participants shared barriers to honoring the values (above) in city and community activities and polices, and policing policies and practices. These are frequently expressed statements, grouped by theme. They are not consensus statements. Challenge of Sustained Change and Action: New solutions and actions are needed to create change. City Government Structures: Policies within the city and a lack of mechanisms understand and monitor what is taking place within the community creates a barrier. Complacency and Apathy and Inertia: It can be easy to become tired, feel a lack of control, and not expend the energy to be involved. Change needs sustained energy and momentum and can be lost when people become consumed with daily lives. There is a long history of no change and status quo. Fear and Discomfort: Change can be scary and uncomfortable which can create resistance to moving forward. Need for Accountability: More accountability is needed for policy and city to realize values. There is blame being pointed at multiple people and groups. Personal Responsibility to Get Out of Circles: There is a need for personal action and desire to get to know other people when living out community values. Individuals need to interact and get to know others perspectives. Making the time and commitment to get out of personal circles often does not happen. Policing Structures: Current structure and values of policing stand in the way of living out the community values. Privilege, Bias, and Racism: Oppression, racism, white privilege, and biases must be recognized and addressed in order for the community values to be honored. Circle: Participants shared ideas on what it would look like for the City of Falcon Heights to live out these values in city and community activities and polices, and policing policies and practices. Strongest Themes Community Based Policing: Policies put in place to end stops for minor traffic offenses such has speeding and equipment malfunctioning and remove the monetary incentives for this type of enforcement. Move to a model of community policing where officers are out of their cars and engaging with community members. Police officers lead and organize neighborhood events where they can interact with community members and have a commitment to community involvement. Increase the communication between police officers and community members including ongoing listening session between the community and police. Community Events and Activities that Foster Broadening Perspectives: Numerous ideas shared for events to build community and foster learning about each other. Ideas included: community reading groups, workshops to explore cultural similarities and differences, inter-active culture sharing events that celebrate diversity, programs and 12 of 46 Falcon Heights Community Conversation 2: March 2, 2017 PRELIMINARY Analysis of Key Themes opportunities for mutually beneficial exchanges between community members of different ethnicities and on-going community conversations. Training for Police, City Staff, and Community Members : Increase the amount and types of training offered to police. Training topics included implicit bias, diversity, de- escalation skills, healing and restorative justice, trauma-informed services, and individual coaching. Comments also reflected the need to offer training to city staff and community members. Very Strong Themes City Accountability: Accountability and honesty by decision makers. Encourage the City Council to clarify their expectations of police officers and resource allocation. Action encouraged by the City Council to establish a community board or task force that has ability review and monitor police and the power to affect change and create accountability for law enforcement officials. Create continued space for citizen voice and participation. Collect, Share, and Utilize Data on Policing Practices: Report on policing to community members to ensure the values are being met and action is being taken when necessary. The city should monitor police data and increase the timeliness and visibility of data on the city website. Neighborhood Level Community Building: Encourage community members to get know your neighbors’ stories, say hello to one another, and care about the welfare of fellow neighbors. Ideas to create a neighborhood engagement toolkit to encourage citizen participation and a neighborhood welcome letter to new community members inviting them to be involved. Policing Policies and Practices that Align with Falcon Heights Values: Use of de- escalation tactics. Increased level of transparency. Recognize difficulties and dangers police face. Create a culture of reflection and compassion. Strong Themes Consider Alternatives to Contracting with St. Anthony Police Department: End the contract with St. Anthony Police and consider contracting with the Ramsey County Sherriff’s Office or creating a small Falcon Heights only police force. Forums for Truth and Reconciliation: Council should publicly apologize and take responsibility for death of Philando Castile. A specific idea is to have the city council commission a writer to create a case study, story, or play about the killing of Philando Castile that becomes a part of school curriculum, and could be part of wider community events. Forums for police to hear about the experiences of people of color. Hire Diverse and Reflective Police Officers Housing: Create more affordable housing in the community and create opportunities for disparate groups to purchase homes in Falcon Heights. Personal and Collective Commitment to Education, Reflection, Reflection and Dialogue: Create opportunities for youth to learn about diversity and inclusiveness at a 13 of 46 Falcon Heights Community Conversation 2: March 2, 2017 PRELIMINARY Analysis of Key Themes young age. Individual and collective commitment to learn about each other and explore our own assumptions. Utilize Terms of the Contract to Ensure that the City's Contracted Police Force Demonstrates the City’s Values: When considering future contracts, incorporate community values and create policies for steps to be taken when policing practices fail to meet these values. 14 of 46 www.nifi.org Safety and Justice How Should Communities Reduce Violence? 15 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? About This Issue Guide The purpose of this issue guide is to help us talk productively about a difficult issue that concerns all of us. Deliberation It’s not a debate. It’s not a contest. It’s not even about reaching agreement or seeing eye-to- eye. It’s about looking for a shared direction guided by what we most value. It’s about examining the costs and consequences of possible solutions to daunting problems and finding out what we, as a society, would or would not accept as a solution. A Framework This guide outlines several alternative ways of looking at the issue, each rooted in a shared concern. It provides strategic facts associated with each approach and suggests the benefits and drawbacks of possible solutions. We engage in deliberation by: ■getting beyond the initial positions we hold to our deeper motivations—that is, the things we most care about, such as safety, freedom, or fairness. ■carefully weighing the views of others and recognizing the impact various options would have on what others consider valuable. ■working through the conflicting emotions that arise when various options pull and tug on what we—and others—consider valuable. It is important to remember that, as a group, we are dealing with broader underlying concerns that are not defined by party affiliation and that your work here is to dig down to the things that define us as human beings and Americans rather than as liberals and conservatives. The research involved in developing the guide included interviews and conversations with Americans from all walks of life, as well as surveys of nonpartisan public opinion research, subject matter scans, and reviews of initial drafts by people involved with organizations ranging from law enforcement groups to groups focused on community-level safety and racial equity. 16 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS One Effective Way to Hold a Deliberative Forum* Ask people to describe how the issue has affected them. OR Ask people how the issue has played out in their community. Introduce the issue to be deliberated. Consider each option one at a time. Allow equal time for each. Review the conversation as a group, identifying any areas of common ground as well as issues that must still be worked through. Allow enough time for this. *This is not the only way to hold a forum. Some communities hold multiple forums. ■ Focus on the options. ■ All options should be considered fairly. ■ No one or two individuals should dominate. ■ Maintain an open and respectful atmosphere. ■ Everyone is encouraged to participate. ■ Listen to each other. Ground Rules for a Forum Before the deliberation begins, it is important for participants to review guidelines for their discussion. 17 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? AFTER FALLING STEADILY FOR DECADES, the rate of violent crime in the United States rose again in 2015 and 2016. Interactions between citizens and police too often end in violence. People are increasingly worried about safety in their communities. Many Americans are concerned that something is going on with violence in communities, law enforcement, and race that is undermining the national ideals of safety and justice for all. It is unclear what is driving the recent rise in violence, but bias and distrust on all sides appear to be making the problem worse. Citizens and police need goodwill and cooperation in order to ensure safety and justice. For many people of color, the sense that they are being treated unfairly by law enforce- ment—and even being targeted by police—is palpable. Others say police departments are being blamed for the actions of a few individuals and that the dangers, stress, and violence law Safety and Justice How Should Communities Reduce Violence? 18 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS NUMBER OF CITIES WHERE MURDER RATES WERE GREATER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE NUMBER OF US CITIES 25 20 15 10 5 0 2000 2005 2010 2015 enforcement officers face in their work is underestimated. Still others hold that if we cannot find ways to defuse poten- tially violent interactions between citizens and police, we will never be able to create safe communities in which all people can thrive and feel welcomed and comfortable. How should we ensure that Americans of every race and background are treated with respect and fairness? What should we do to ensure that the police have the support they need to fairly enforce the law? To what degree do racial and other forms of bias distort the justice system? What should we do as citizens to help reduce violence of all kinds in our communities and the nation as a whole? How should communities increase safety while at the same time ensuring justice? This issue guide is a framework for citizens to work through these important questions together. It offers three different options for delib- eration, each rooted in different, widely shared concerns and different ways of looking at the problem. The resulting conversation may be difficult, as it will necessarily involve tensions between things people hold deeply valuable, such It is unclear what is driving the recent rise in violence, but bias and distrust on all sides appear to be making the problem worse. Citizens and police need goodwill and cooperation in order to ensure safety and justice. Source: The New York Times, from FBI and local police data 19 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? US VIOLENT CRIME RATE (Per 100,000 People) 520 488 456 424 392 360 2000 2005 2010 2015 as a collective sense of security, fair treatment for everyone, and personal freedom. No one option is the “correct” one; each includes drawbacks and trade-offs that we will have to face if we are to make progress on this issue. They are not the only options available. They are presented as a starting point for deliberation. THE FIRST OPTION says that our top priority should be finding ways for communities and police to work together to stop violence of all kinds. Most Americans want safer streets and communities. Through neighborhood watch programs and community policing, citizens and police should identify sources of violence and work together to stop it. THE SECOND OPTION says that only by addressing basic injustices and implicit bias in law enforcement and the courts can safety for all be achieved. Currently, the law is not enforced or applied fairly. From dealing with the ways people of color are treated on the streets to unequal sentencing in the courts, widespread reforms are needed in order to restore trust and reduce violence. THE THIRD OPTION says that law enforcement officers are asked to handle a range of problems that go well beyond what they should be responsible for and what they were trained for. The police are often the first responders to men- tal health, domestic, and drug abuse crises that escalate into violence. We should provide more mental illness and sub- stance abuse treatment so there are fewer such episodes. We should commit to the de-escalation of violence, by police and in the larger society. Source: FBI 20 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS A Local Perspective . . . 21 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? ACCORDING TO THIS OPTION, residents and police officers in every community should focus on working together in ways that ensure that everyone feels safe. Americans should be able to expect that they can go about their daily lives, taking reasonable precautions, without becoming the victims of violence. Communities should maintain law and order by improving the partnership between residents and the police. This means that police should do their part in protecting all citizens, and all community members should take some responsibility for reducing crime and violence as well. Option 1: Enforce the Law Together Expand policing while strengthening community-police partnerships. 22 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS This option sees citizens working in tandem with the police in a range of ways. This could include: supporting the enlargement of police departments; expanding and strength- ening neighborhood watch programs; training people to carry firearms responsibly; and creating community orga- nizations that tap into local knowledge about the strategies that will work best there. It also means that community members may need to support greater enforcement, with less tolerance for small infractions of the law. In Yakima Valley, a region of southern Washington State, residents and businessowners concerned about gang violence, crime, and opportunities for young people took up the challenge by forming Safe Yakima Valley in 2006. “We were talking about the crime rate in Yakima, and we were just complaining about it, about how bad things were,” said Bill Dolsen, a local businessman. “And my wife just said, ‘Are we going to sit here and complain or are we going to do something about it?’ And the light went on in our heads.” Today, Safe Yakima Valley runs multiple programs to break up gangs, place local teens in jobs, and improve relations between police and neigh- borhoods. Nationally, police as well as community members are on edge. Some individuals have intentionally targeted and killed police officers in Dallas, Baton Rouge, Des Moines, and elsewhere. In Houston, Deputy Constable Steve Faulkner said am- bushes of police officers in some cities have put him and his fellow officers, as well as their families, on high alert. His wife calls more often to check on him, and he looks for potential assailants from the moment he leaves the station. “It changes the way you do patrolling,” he said in the New York Times. “Your head’s on a swivel now.” This option says that more police officers are needed so they can work in pairs and be more visible and acces- sible. There are already clear laws in place, of course, and the overwhelming majority of Americans observe them. Focusing on reporting those who do not observe the law will result in safer communities. This collective effort will deter criminals from engaging in illegal activity in our neighborhoods, as they know police and residents alike will stop them. Communities of all kinds know best how they can achieve safety and security. Each can develop its own strat- egy for combating violence without waiting for guidance from the government. ©E M I L E W A M S T E K E R 23 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? What We Could Do Improve Working Relationships to Build Trust Between Police and the Community According to this option, if we are to see public safety as a shared responsibility between community members and police officers, working relationships will need to be im- proved. One way to do this is by making police officers more visibly accessible to community members. Richmond, California, a city of about 100,000 near San Francisco, recorded 38 murders in 2006, the year that Chris Magnus became police chief, and 47 the next year. Gang violence was rampant in the community and its citizens did not trust the police department. Chief Magnus began a comprehensive shake-up of the department, hiring and promoting more female and Latino officers, assigning officers to specific neighborhoods so they became known to community members, and making the cellphone number for every officer public so that residents could reach them directly. Magnus also changed the way Richmond recruits officers, emphasizing the ability to build relationships. “My goal is to look for people who want to work in my commu- nity, not because it’s a place where they think they’re going to be dealing with a lot of violence and hot chases and armed individuals and excitement and an episode of Cops or something,” Magnus said in an interview with the online magazine Vox. “I want them to be here because they’re interested in building a partnership with the community.” Equally important, citizens began to feel they were part- ners with the police. Richard Boyd, a Richmond resident who works for an interfaith organization, said in the Los Angeles Times, “We were able … to call the beat officers directly and say, ‘There are eight guys out front gambling.’ And those officers would respond because they could feel our pain.” Homicides in Richmond dropped to 18 in 2015. Hire More Police Officers This option also holds that, in order to improve commu- nity safety, more police officers—and greater enforcement— will be required. Simply improving trust is important, but not enough. “Increasing numbers of police officers can reduce crime,” the Atlantic magazine reported in 2015, citing the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. “In- creased police in the 1990s brought down crime by about 5 percent. . . . Simply having more officers on the streets, even if they are not arresting or stopping anyone, can be a crime deterrent.” But during the recent recession, many cities experienc- ing serious budget shortfalls began cutting police positions or allowing forces to shrink. It is estimated that 12,000 officers were laid off in 2008 alone, and some cities are still not back at full employment. Enlarging a department makes it possible to increase the number of officers walking a beat and easier to expand community-policing efforts. New Haven, Connecticut, has recently increased its force by more than 10 percent and put many more officers on walking beats. As a result, the Wall Street Journal reported in 2015, the rate of violent crime and serious property crime in New Haven dropped by a third. “You have somebody walking around, you can talk to them,” said William Walker, 44, who works at a local hospital and stopped an officer in New Haven to tell him about a suspi- cious car. Expand Neighborhood Watch Programs A critical element in this option is the cooperation and involvement of every citizen in addressing crime. In the 1960s, author Jane Jacobs first observed that people sitting on their front porches and paying attention to the neighbor- hood was perhaps the most effective way of keeping the 24 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS 750 500 250 0 1,000 1,250 1,500 NUMBER OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Source: New Haven Police Department 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 HOMICIDES AND AGGRAVATED ASSULTS IN NEW HAVEN, CT, DOWN SINCE INCREASING FOOT PATROLS IN 2011 NUMBER OF HOMICIDES peace. Neighborhood watch programs have been striving to make that work in the decades since. But the National Sheriffs’ Association estimates that just 40 percent of Ameri- cans live in a neighborhood watch area, and too many of those are neighborhoods where there is not much crime to begin with. Such community efforts are not just feel-good exercises. Several studies, by the National Crime Prevention Council and other organizations, have found that neighborhood watch programs do tend to work. In northwest Las Vegas, burglar- ies and other property thefts dropped more than 30 percent where neighborhood watch programs were most active, the Las Vegas Sun reported; conversely more than 90 percent of auto thefts took place where there was no neighborhood watch program. According to this option, the knowledge that community members have about their neighborhoods is an important and underutilized asset. As police departments build trust through community policing, they should leverage that trust into better-organized neighborhood watches that can work closely with officers to prevent and report crime. “We reduce crime by citizens helping us,” said Las Vegas Police Captain John McGrath. “We need the eyes and ears of the community.” 25 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? Trade-Offs and Downsides ■ Neighborhood watch programs could worsen racial bias, increase the likelihood of vigilante justice, or lead to police calls for innocuous behavior. Sometimes people are biased and suspicious of those unlike themselves. ■ More police officers visible in the community may create the sense that people are living in a police state. In some communities, a greater police presence may make residents feel less safe—that more of them will be arrested or have to endure needless encounters with police. ■ People will be hesitant to report neighbors or friends to the police if they fear retribution. ■ Nearly every city is under budget pressure. Spending more money on policing means less money for preventive programs. ©C H R I S T O B I N / P H O T O D I S C / G E T T Y I M A G E S Local perspectives on enforcing the law together 26 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS ?1 2 3 4 Questions for deliberation . . . Would better working relations between the police and the commu- nity address the crime and justice issues that concern you most? How can we ensure that these crime prevention tactics do not violate the American standard that all people are innocent until proven guilty? If this happened and nothing else changed, would you be satisfied? If we focus on punishing crime, do we ignore the underlying prob- lems that cause people to commit crimes? 27 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? THIS OPTION SAYS that all Americans should be treated equitably, but that too often, some people are treated unfairly due to systemic bias throughout the criminal justice system and, in many cases, the way police go about their work. Research shows that law enforcement and the courts are harsher on people of color and on people in poverty. According to this option, these and similar inequities arise from racism that must be addressed before everyone will be able to feel they live in a safe and just society. When Darren Wilson, a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, fatally shot Michael Brown, an unarmed African American teenager, in August 2014, the resulting protests and investigation focused national attention on the many negative ways that police and the criminal justice system engage with people of color. Option 2: Apply the Law Fairly Remove injustices, reform inequities, and improve accountability. 28 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS The US Justice Department found that Ferguson’s courts and police officers had lost sight of the community’s needs and their obligation to uphold the safety of all its residents. Eighty-five percent of the police department’s traffic stops targeted African American drivers. Law-abiding African Americans, often doing nothing suspicious, were routinely stopped, frisked, and asked for identification. Exorbitant fines and fees were disproportionately charged to people of color. The report found officers “are inclined to interpret the exercise of free-speech rights as unlawful disobedience, innocent movements as physical threats, indications of mental or physical illness as belligerence.” These findings rang true with people of color across the United States, many of whom had seen similar practices in their own communities. A 2014 USA Today study of all arrests in more than 3,500 police departments across the country found that 95 percent of departments arrested African Americans at a higher rate than other racial groups. “Blacks are more likely than others to be arrested in almost every city for almost every type of crime,” according to the article. More communities and their police departments have become aware that overt racism and implicit bias—in which unconscious prejudices and stereotypes affect decision making and attitudes—contribute to the dangerous and sometimes fatal interactions people of color have with law enforcement and the justice system. Many African American parents today make a special effort to teach their children how to interact with the police so officers do not see them as criminal threats. It is referred to as “the talk.” One mother told CNN that she talked to her 12-year-old son about the old prank of ringing someone’s doorbell and running away. “I said you cannot play that game,” April Finkley explained. “He said, ‘Why?’ Because when your friend plays the game and he’s running away from a neighbor’s house, he’s going to go home. . . . When you play it, you may not come home to me, because you will be seen as a black male running from a stranger’s home.” Finally, many citizens in lower-income communities and some communities with more people of color, say that more of their neighbors are driven into crime by lack of other op- portunities— failing schools, few job prospects, and other conditions that make these neighborhoods more vulner- able. This option holds that, unless some of these inequities are addressed, more people from these communities will continue to be drawn into criminal activity. Protesters in Chicago carry crosses to commemorate the lives of those lost to gun violence in 2016. ©S C O T T O L S O N / G E T T Y I M A G E S N E W S / G E T T Y I M A G E S 29 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? What We Could Do Curtail Traffic Stops and “Stop-and-Frisk” This option holds that a number of common police practices are connected to racial profiling or abuse, and should be ended or sharply reduced. Traffic stops, for instance, result in far too many shoot- ings and deaths. Multiple studies suggest that this routine police power is frequently abused, with African American drivers getting stopped, and subsequently ticketed or arrested, disproportionately often. Given the risk to both officers and civilians, these practices should be sharply curtailed. Police could rely instead on cameras to catch speeders and drivers who run red lights and reserve the traffic stop for drivers posing a more urgent threat. This option also holds that the police tactic of “stop- and-frisk” must end. This is a practice in which police officers can force any citizen to be searched and produce documentation. Studies suggest this tactic is overwhelm- ingly used on people of color, yet such individuals are not more likely to be carrying illegal items or otherwise break- ing the law. For instance, a 2016 report commissioned by the San Francisco district attorney investigated that city’s police practices and found that “of all people searched without consent, black and Hispanic people had the lowest ‘hit rates’ (i.e., the lowest rate of contraband recovered)” and that “the disparities in search hit rates suggest the SFPD performs nonconsensual searches of black and Hispanic people with lower levels of evidence than for other racial or ethnic groups.” Judges have ruled against the practice, and some cities like New York have cut back on its use. This option says the rest of the nation must also end the use of stop-and-frisk and other tactics that may involve racial profiling. Require Implicit Bias Training This option says that one area in which progress must be made is in addressing implicit bias and racism. The concept of implicit bias holds that there are beliefs, assumptions, and stereotypes that exist in all of us, often unconsciously. These biases can create problems in interactions between and among authority figures and community members. “If the stereotype is ‘New Yorkers are rude,’ prejudice is the feeling of like or dislike based on the stereotype, as in ‘I value courtesy so I don’t like New Yorkers,’” explained Morehouse College psychologist Bryant Marks in the Wash- ington Post. “Discrimination is the action that often follows stereotypes and prejudices, which can result in a New Yorker not being hired for a customer service job or welcomed as a neighbor. Sometimes we’re aware of the thoughts and feel- ings that lead us to discriminate. Sometimes we aren’t.” In the fluid, ambiguous, and potentially volatile circum- stances involved in police interactions, such assumptions can be deadly. Police may interpret innocent behavior, like playing with a toy gun, as suspicious or dangerous, and respond with force. According to this option, it is particularly important to address the implicit biases of those in authority, such as po- lice officers. This can be done through training. For example, in July 2016, the US Department of Justice established such training for its law enforcement employees. “The effects of … bias can be countered by acknowledging its existence and utilizing response strategies,” said Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates. Such training is not designed to criticize or blame police officers. On the contrary, it begins by acknowledging that everyone harbors bias, and shows people how to respond in difficult situations without letting bias drive the split-second 30 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS decisions that can mean the difference between violent conflict and peaceful resolution. Another important reform would be creating more accountability mechanisms so that there is greater over- sight of police practices. This could be done through citizen review boards and through mandatory, immediate release of dashboard and body-camera videos. Make Enforcement and Sentencing More Equitable This option holds that the US prison population is both far too large and unfairly comprised of people of color. People of color are overrepresented in prisons, while white people are underrepresented. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 38 percent of all male inmates are African American, three times their share of the US population. Twenty-two percent are Hispanic, also well above their share of the population. Meanwhile, 32 percent are Caucasian, just half of their share of the US population. This is largely due to much higher rates of arrest, conviction, and length of sentence for people of color on drug offenses, even though the rate of actual drug use is similar among white Americans. Another reason may be that police departments deploy more officers in poor com- munities of color. Studies also suggest that people of color receive harsher sentences for similar offenses than do white Americans. According to this option, we need to reform sentenc- ing and enforcement so it is applied more fairly across the board. One important reform would be to do away with so- called “three strikes” laws, resulting in fewer people who are imprisoned long-term, in many cases simply because they committed petty crimes. PERSONS OF COLOR KILLED BY POLICE IN 2016, DISPROPORTIONATE TO THEIR NUMBERS IN THE US POPULATION 60% 30% 40% 50% 20% 10% 0%Caucasian African American Hispanic Other Unknown Percentage of US Population Percentage of People Killed by Police 12% 24% 7%4%6% 18%17% Numbers do not equal 100% due to rounding and other factors. 48% 61% Caucasian 462 African American 232 Hispanic 160 Other 42 Unknown Ethnicity 61 957 People Shot Dead by Police in 2016: Source: The Washington Post, based on news reports, public records, Internet databases, and original reporting 31 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? Trade-Offs and Downsides ■ Police departments already face difficulties in recruiting for a very tough job. If we single out police officers too quickly for what is acknowledged to be a problem of bias across society, we risk turning away more recruits. ■ This may make it more difficult for officers to make split-second life and death decisions. ■ Taking investigative tools, such as “stop and frisk,” away from police officers will mean that we reduce the ability of police to stop serious crimes before they start. ■ Reducing penalties for drug or other offenses could lead to an increase in crime. Local perspectives on applying the law fairly 32 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS ?1 2 3 Questions for deliberation . . . Bias training is useful, but can we realistically ask police officers to hold back and take risks when guns are so easily available and when violence is so prevalent in our society? Some say long jail terms are an important deterrent to habitual crimi- nals and that they protect communities. What would be the reaction in your neighborhood if small-time drug dealers and petty thieves were released back into the community? Do reasons for the large number of prison inmates of color begin with inequities in our social and economic systems? 33 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? BY ANY MEASURE, the United States is far more violent than other large developed nations. While violent crime has declined over the past decades, there is still far too much day-to-day violence, and the threat of it, in many communities. Many US cities have more murders than much larger countries. Option 3: De-escalate and Prevent Violence Address the causes of violence and take direct actions to disrupt conflict. 34 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS “Only when violence becomes personal are Americans jarred, though briefly,” wrote Jean Kim, a George Washing- ton University professor, in the online journal Aeon. “With the advent of the Internet, cellphones and YouTube, we have these unexpected moments where the lava pours out. People react with confusion, shock; their numbness doesn’t work any- more. But the more it happens, the more detached we become.” According to this option, too many otherwise routine interactions between community members and police become violent, sometimes tragically so. In July 2014, a police officer in Staten Island trying to halt the sale of untaxed cigarettes on the sidewalk put Eric Garner, 43, into a chokehold, even as Garner repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe!” Garner ultimately died. A grand jury did not indict the officer, which led to widespread pro- tests in the United States and around the world. The city of New York, how- ever, agreed to pay Garner’s family $5.9 million. This option holds that violence itself, committed by citizens or by po- lice officers, is the most urgent threat and should be directly addressed. If communities were to fully embrace methods of de-escalation, they would become safer. De-escalation strategies can work anywhere—workplaces, playgrounds, or in the home. Diplo- mats, nurses, even librarians have received training in ways to calm aggressive individuals and defuse potentially violent situations. LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH Nu m b e r o f D e a t h s 50K 40K 30K 20K 10K 0 K 60K Injury Deaths Compared to Other Leading Causes of Death for Persons Ages 1-44, United States, 2013 Noncommunicable Diseases Infectious Disease Injury and Violence Jan.—Dec. 2013 Jan.—Dec. 2014 Jan.—Dec. 2015 Jan.—Aug. 2016 400.0 300.0 200.0 100.0 0.0 -100.0 -200.0 -300.0 -400.0 -500.0 -600.0Ad d i t i o n a l S h o o t i n g s B a s e d o n A v e r a g e L e v e l s ( 2 0 0 4 - 2 0 1 4 ) THE RISE IN CHICAGO KILLINGS BEGAN WHEN CEASEFIRE (FORMERLY CURE VIOLENCE) FUNDING WAS CUT IN MARCH 2015 Over Next 18 Months 816 Additional People Shot (Based on baseline average from 2004-2014) CeaseFire Cut: •from 71 workers to 10 •from 14 program sites to 1 full and 3 partial sites 536 Fewer Shootings (Jan. 2013 to Feb. 2015) Source: Official Chicago Police Department data Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 35 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? What We Could Do Directly Interrupt Violence “Violence is a contagious disease,” said Gary Slutkin, M.D., an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2014. “It meets the definitions of a disease and of being contagious—that is, violence is spread from one person to another.” When Slutkin founded Cure Violence (now operating as CeaseFire) in 2000, he turned to people in the community who could act much like the body’s own anti-virus protection. Ameena Matthews, Cobe Williams, and Eddie Bocanegra, all with past links to violent gangs, are among those who have worked as violence “interrupters,” identifying situations and individuals likely to cause violence, employing conflict- mediation methods to break the chain of violence, and teaching people in their Chicago neighborhoods how to change behaviors that lead to violence. This option holds that this approach should be adopted in other cities. One of the keys to the program’s success is that, as community members, the interrupters have cred- ibility and contacts that outsiders would not have. Research- ers found a clear correlation between CeaseFire’s work and an accompanying fall in Chicago’s violent crime rate. That correlation may have been strengthened by what happened next: CeaseFire’s funding was slashed in spring 2015 and the number of interrupters cut from 71 to 10, and Chicago’s spike in violence and homicides in 2015-2016 began shortly after that point. Address Mental Illness and Similar Crises This option recognizes that some incidents of violence are the result of mental illness, including drug addiction, and that police officers are often called upon to be the first responders to such situations. According to this option, such problems should be addressed earlier so they do not become criminal issues. The Treatment Advocacy Center estimates that nearly 400,000 people with mental illness are in jails and prisons rather than in treatment. One of the main reasons is that states closed many psychiatric hospitals and moved toward de-institutionalization, starting in the 1960s. There are now far too few psychiatric hospital beds, a fact highlighted by Virginia state senator Creigh Deeds after his son, Gus, attacked him and then killed himself in 2013. Gus Deeds, despite a judge’s order, could not be hospitalized because no bed was available. “That makes absolutely no sense,” Deeds said in U.S. News & World Report. “An emergency room cannot turn away a person in cardiac arrest because the ER is full, a police officer does not wait to arrest a murder suspect or a bank robber if no jail space is identified.” Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck at a meeting with local gang leaders, organized by rappers The Game (left) and Snoop Dogg, to discuss ways to curb violence in the city ©A P P H O T O / R I C H A R D V O G E L 36 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS When police officers must deal with individuals exhibit- ing possible mental illness in public, the uncertainty and potential for violence in the situation is sometimes worsened by traditional police responses. In July 2016, a North Miami officer shot therapist Charles Kinsey while he lay flat on his back with his hands in the air as he attempted to bring a wandering patient back to the group home where he lived. Kinsey was not killed, but the episode seemed clearly to call for more restraint. In many instances, community members can intervene in ways that are less likely to result in violence than if uni- formed officers do. Some communities have begun forming mental health response teams that can take the place of police officers in dealing with people in crisis and thus reduce the chance of a violent encounter. According to this option, people in more communities ought to adopt this model. Train Police Officers in De-escalation and De-militarize Police Departments Police officers are often the first to deal with a wide range of issues, not just reported crimes—family and marital problems, disputes between neighbors, and mental health crises—and they are handling more than ever before. For example, dispatchers for the Albemarle County, Virginia, police department reported a 54 percent increase in mental health 911 calls between 2011 and 2016. According to this option, police training is too focused on using force to deal with situations. “Police training needs to go beyond emphasizing the severity of the risks that officers face by taking into account the likelihood of those risks materializing,” wrote Seth Stoughton, a former police officer and now law pro- fessor at the University of South Carolina, in the Atlantic. “Policing has risks—serious ones—that we cannot casually dismiss. . . . But for all of its risks, policing is safer now than it has ever been. Violent attacks on officers, particularly those that involve a serious physical threat, are few and far between when you take into account the fact that police officers interact with civilians about 63 million times every year.” Stoughton and others argue that police training needs to spend many more classroom and real-world hours on communication and de-escalation. Such tactics can be effective. In 2015, outside a restaurant in Camden, New Jersey, two officers trained in de-escalation were confronted by a man lunging forward with a steak knife. They could have shot him, but instead cleared all bystanders away and began talking to him. Eventually, he dropped the knife. It was the kind of outcome that needs to happen more often in the United States. According to this option, another factor that contributes to the current level of violence in law enforcement interac- tions is the way police are equipped and organized. The high crime rates of the 1990s and the terrorist attacks of 9/11 prompted many police departments to rely more often than before on heavily armed SWAT teams and lethal hardware. More recently, many police departments have obtained and use military hardware, such as armored troop carri- ers, flash-bang grenades, and bayonets, through national programs that transfer military surplus items to local law enforcement agencies. In part due to the prevalence of so much deadly weaponry, potentially violent situations that once might have been defused are now more likely to produce an armed confrontation. The military equipment transfers have been sharply curtailed since 2015, but much of the equipment is still in use. This option holds that this equipment should be decommissioned. 37 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? Trade-Offs and Downsides ■ Police officers’ lives and those of bystanders could be endangered more often when de-escalation doesn’t work. ■ When citizens directly intervene in potentially violent situations, they will be placed at risk. ■ Taking military hardware away from the police could be the wrong strategy in an era of more frequent “lone wolf” terror attacks. Local perspectives on de-escalating and preventing violence 38 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS ?Questions for deliberation . . . How much does this approach address your most serious concerns about safety and justice in America? If we only pursued the ideas in this approach, would you be satisfied? How much do you think individuals can do to help address mental health issues in their communities? Is it realistic to think that neighbors are equipped to handle situations of domestic abuse and child abuse when professionals struggle to address them? 1 2 3 Angalia Bianca, right, an outreach worker for CeaseFire in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, talks with a teenager, March 1, 2012. This direct contact with youths on Howard Street is part of her regular beat. ©C H I C A G O T R I B U N E / T R I B U N E N E W S S E R V I C E / G E T T Y I M A G E S 39 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? AFTER FALLING STEADILY FOR DECADES, the rate of violent crime in the United States rose again in 2015 and 2016. Interactions between citizens and police too often end in violence. People are increasingly worried about safety in their communities. Many Americans are concerned something is going on with violence in communities, law enforcement, and race that is undermining the national ideals of safety and justice for all. It is unclear what is driving this rise in violence, but bias and distrust on all sides appear to be making the problem worse. Citizens and police need goodwill and cooperation in order to ensure safety and justice. For many people of color, the sense that they are being treated unfairly by law enforcement—and even being targeted by police—is palpable. Others say police officers are being blamed for the actions of a few and that the dangers, stress, and violence law enforcement officers face in their work is underestimated. Still others hold that if ways to defuse potentially violent interactions between citizens and police are not found, we will never be able to create safe communities in which all people can thrive and feel welcomed and comfortable. How should communities increase safety while at the same time ensuring justice? This issue guide is a framework for citizens to work through these im- portant questions together. It offers three different options for deliberation, each rooted in different, widely shared concerns and different ways of looking at the problem. The resulting conversation may be difficult, as it will necessarily involve tensions between things people hold deeply valuable, such as a collective sense of security, fair treatment for all, and personal freedom. No one option is the “correct” one; each includes drawbacks and trade-offs that we will have to face if we are to make progress on this issue. They are not the only options available. They are presented as a starting point for deliberation. Summary 40 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS THIS OPTION SAYS THAT OUR TOP PRIORITY should be finding ways for communities and police to work together to stop violence of all kinds. Most Americans want safer streets and communities. Through neighborhood watch programs and community policing, citizens and police should identify sources of violence and work together to stop it. But—more police officers visible in the community may create the sense that people are living in a police state. Some people may take the law into their own hands. Option 1: Enforce the Law Together TRADE-OFFS TO CONSIDEREXAMPLES OF WHAT MIGHT BE DONE Communities can hire and deploy significantly more police officers of diverse races and train them in community policing. This could create the oppressive feel of a police state. Beef up and expand the use of neighborhood crime watch programs. This might erode community trust and neighbors could end up targeting people based on racial, ethnic, or religious biases. Require police officers to live in the communities they serve. Some cities might find it harder to attract and hire new officers. More citizens could fulfill their own obligations to the criminal justice system by reporting crimes and serving as witnesses and jurors. Train more people in the responsible use and carrying of firearms, and enact more “stand your ground” laws. People may act as vigilantes. Many people don’t want to participate in a system that they see as biased and unfairly burdensome. This option proposes that we put more trust in law enforcement and neighborhood watch efforts to ensure safety for all. How can we ensure that police officers will also observe the law? Are we confident that ordinary citizens can handle increased responsibility? Expand policing while strengthening community-police partnerships. What else?What’s the trade-off? 41 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? TRADE-OFFS TO CONSIDEREXAMPLES OF WHAT MIGHT BE DONE Limit the use of traffic stops and “stop and frisk” by police officers, and review other practices where racial profiling could come into play. This would be taking away some of the tools police officers use to prevent crime before people are hurt. Cities could invest more resources in schools in communities with higher poverty and crime rates. This would mean that tax dollars would go to communities where there is greater need, rather than being distributed equally. Require all law enforcement officers and court officials, including judges, to participate in implicit bias training. This may make it more difficult for officers to make necessary split-second life and death decisions out on the street. Using body cameras and smartphones, police and community members can document interactions, with videos made publicly available and independent prosecutors appointed to increase accountability. Reduce rates of arrest for minor drug and other non- violent crimes, especially in communities of color, and address disparities in sentencing for people of color. Some criminals would receive less punishment than they currently do. Community members would have to be willing to accept more repeat, nonviolent crimes being committed. This could put privacy and trust at risk and lead mem- bers of the community to continually second-guess the police based on partial evidence. Some police officers may feel themselves targeted by the legal system. This option argues that inequity and bias are at the root of much of the violence the nation is experiencing. Can becoming aware of these biases actually change behavior? Is police reform enough to adequately ensure all people feel safe in their communities? Option 2: Apply the Law Fairly THIS OPTION SAYS THAT ONLY BY ADDRESSING injustice and bias in law enforcement and the courts can safety for all be achieved. Currently, the law is not enforced or applied fairly. From dealing with the way people of color are treated on the streets to unequal sentencing in the courts, widespread reforms are needed in order to restore trust and reduce violence. But—this may make it harder for police officers and judges to do their jobs. Remove injustices, reform inequities, and improve accountability. What else?What’s the trade-off? 42 of 46 NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS TRADE-OFFS TO CONSIDEREXAMPLES OF WHAT MIGHT BE DONE Community members can disrupt gang activity and stop violence before it occurs. Community members could put themselves and others at risk. States and cities can invest in more mental health treatment programs and hospital beds to reduce violence both against and by those with mental illness. This could result in more people being confined in mental hospitals for long periods. Local governments could sponsor gun buy-back programs to reduce the number of guns in circulation. Those likely to participate in these programs are probably not the ones using guns for illegal purposes. Cities could stop allowing police to use military hardware, especially for crowd control. Train all police officers in de-escalation techniques and enforce stricter use-of-force rules. Police officers’ lives—and the lives of bystanders— could be endangered in some situations. Police officers might be underequipped or outgunned in the worst situations, such as active shooter incidents. This option says situations often unnecessarily escalate into violent confrontations. Do we expect too much of law enforcement? Is it reasonable to expect that citizen interventions can reduce violence? Option 3: De-escalate and Prevent Violence THIS OPTION SAYS THAT VIOLENCE itself is the most urgent threat and should be directly addressed. We should commit to the de-escalation of violence, by police and in the larger society. The police are often the first responders to mental health, domestic, and drug abuse crises that they are not always trained to handle. We should provide more mental illness and substance abuse treatment so there are fewer such episodes. But—this might put police officers and citizens in danger more often. Reduce the culture of violence and take direct actions to disrupt conflict. What else?What’s the trade-off? 43 of 46 SAFETY AND JUSTICE: HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES REDUCE VIOLENCE? The National Issues Forums The National Issues Forums (NIF) is a network of organizations that bring together citizens around the nation to talk about pressing social and political issues of the day. Thousands of community organizations, including schools, libraries, churches, civic groups, and others, have sponsored forums designed to give people a public voice in the affairs of their communities and their nation. Forum participants engage in deliberation, which is simply weighing options for action against things held commonly valuable. This calls upon them to listen respectfully to others, sort out their views in terms of what they most value, consider courses of action and their disadvantages, and seek to identify actionable areas of common ground. Issue guides like this one are designed to frame and support these conversations. They present varying perspectives on the issue-at-hand, suggest actions to address identified problems, and note the trade-offs of taking those actions to remind participants that all solutions have costs as well as benefits. In this way, forum participants move from holding individual opinions to making collective choices as members of a community—the kinds of choices from which public policy may be forged or public action may be taken, at community as well as national levels. Feedback If you participated in this forum, please fill out a questionnaire, which is included in this issue guide or can be accessed online at www.nifi.org/questionnaires. If you are filling out the enclosed questionnaire, please return the completed form to your moderator or to the National Issues Forums Institute, 100 Commons Road, Dayton, Ohio 45459. If you moderated this forum, please fill out a Moderator Response sheet, which is online at www.nifi.org/ questionnaires. Your responses play a vital role in providing information that is used to communicate your views to others, including officeholders, the media, and other citizens. 44 of 46 Other Topics and Ordering Information Recent topics in this series include economic security, energy, alcohol, jobs, and Social Security. For more information, please visit www.nifi.org. Writer: Tony Wharton Executive Editor: Brad Rourke Managing Editor: Ilse Tebbetts Art Consultant and Contributing Writer: Amy Lee Illustrations: Based on original designs by Odie & Partners Design and Production: Long’s Graphic Design, Inc. Copy Editor: Lisa Boone-Berry Safety and Justice: How Should Communities Reduce Violence? © Copyright 2017 National Issues Forums Institute All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-946206-04-6 Founded in 1927, the Kettering Foundation of Dayton, Ohio (with an office in Washington, DC), is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institute that studies the public’s role in democracy. It provides issue guides and other research for the National Issues Forums. For information about the Kettering Foundation, please visit www.kettering.org or contact the foundation at 200 Commons Road, Dayton, Ohio 45459. This publication may not be reproduced or copied without the written permission of the National Issues Forums Institute. For permission to reproduce or copy, please write to NIFI@nifi.org. 45 of 46 www.nifi.org 46 of 46