Public attention on crime and public safety has largely focused on fixing problems in cities, despite troubling safety challenges in rural and suburban areas as well.
One result of this fragmented approach has been a wave of policymaking centered on restoring “law and order” in cities, which has largely prioritized policing, penalties, and prisons as the primary deterrents to crime,
the Brookings Institution says in a new report.
At the state level, this includes efforts to exert state control over local police departments, curtail the powers of prosecutors, and roll back criminal justice reforms aimed at shrinking the size of the incarcerated population.
Some cities are increasing prosecutions for low-level crimes, embracing :stop and frisk policing and enacting youth curfews.
Brookings suggests that rather than siloing public safety and economic development efforts, governments should align the two objectives, particularly in “left-behind” communities, whether urban or rural.
A large body of evidence finds that approaches linking public safety efforts to those bolstering employment, education,
After speaking withCook County, Il., jail inmates, former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said,“What I heard dozens and dozens of times was a job for $12 or $13 dollars an hour…If we could employ people and give them a chance to heal, get their high school diplomas and grow, they will make that choice. They’re happy to make that choice.”
An Ohio police officer said, “Whether it’s an urban area with gangs or a rural area with trailer parks, crime comes down to depressed economics. Some people, especially single moms, are working five jobs and when their kids come home. Nobody’s there. It’s not because they don’t care, it’s because they can’t be there. But young people still want a family atmosphere. They’re looking for mentorship, people that care about them, and family. That’s what gangs provide."
Brookings presents analysis from 10 states (Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin) and evidence-based recommendations to address the intersection between place, public safety, and the economy.
Crime is not limited to cities, but varies widely across cities, suburbs, and rural areas, with some suburbs and rural areas reporting higher per capita crime rates in recent years than urban peers.
The report said there is a strong relationship between place, economic opportunity, and public safety in cities, and a similar relationship across select suburban and rural areas.
Investments in youth, families, and neighborhood revitalization can mitigate crime and help break the cycle of violence in communities over the long run.
Bookings suggests ways in which state, regional, and local leaders can join forces to make a tangible difference for safety and economic growth in urban, suburban, and rural communities alike.